Early 20th Century Islamic Tinned Copper Bowl with Qur’anic Inscription (Dated 1935 AH)

This tinned copper bowl dates to the early 20th century and bears a clearly legible Arabic inscription cut by hand into the interior. The text includes the devotional phrase “Mā shā’ Allāh” (“As God has willed”) and a Qur’anic verse from Surah as-Saff (61:13), translated as “Victory from God and a near triumph.” Beneath the inscription appears a Hijri date of 1935 AH, corresponding to approximately 1917–1918 CE.

The bowl is formed from hammered copper with a tin-lined interior, a traditional technique used across the Islamic world to make vessels suitable for food, water, or ritual handling. The exterior shows honest wear and surface variation consistent with age and use, while the interior inscription remains clear and deliberate. Pieces of this type were intended for domestic or devotional contexts rather than courtly or ceremonial presentation, and their significance lies in the religious text rather than personal dedication.

This example reflects the wider Islamic revival in metalwork during the late Ottoman and early modern period, when Qur’anic phrases and blessing formulas were commonly applied to functional objects. It is offered as a historically grounded devotional object, suitable for collectors of Islamic art or as a contemplative decorative piece.

Measurements 

5.5cm Height, 12.5cm Diameter.

Condition

Good antique condition consistent with age and use. The tinned copper body shows surface wear, patination, and minor abrasions commensurate with early 20th-century devotional metalwork. The interior retains clear, legible Arabic inscription with expected wear to the tinning. No cracks, splits, or structural issues observed. Minor surface irregularities and shallow marks from manufacture and use. Overall sound and stable, with honest wear appropriate to its age.