Mystery: Large Copper Tray

[Gonzo Gardener]

I bought this tray 13 years ago at a Long Beach, California thrift store for $18.00. It measures 29" across, it's very heavy, has some remnants of silver inside the rim of the tray, and no markings on the back... and yes, I know I'm a very bad girl for polishing it, but it gets so dark that you can't see the detail.

Where was it made? How can I identify the writing to get a translation? And... what the hell, an estimated value would be good to know, too. I can't seem to find anything out there (online) to compare it with.



detail...



back...

[Vinca]

1. Definitely Middle Eastern. I found a smaller one once in silver.

It's gorgeous. I found a similar size one on ebay - http://cgi.ebay.com/HUGE-MIDDLE-EASTERN-ISLAMIC-COPPER-PALACE-TRAY-TABLE_W0QQitemZ360009209782QQihZ023QQcategoryZ1213QQcmdZViewItem
It would be interesting to find someone to translate it. I'm betting it's something from the Koran. Great buy! Copper is one thing you can polish without doing damage (although anything you suspect is of great value you should leave alone). In fact, when it comes to old copper cookware, many people prefer it shiny.

[Gonzo Gardener]

2. Oh wow...

good find, I have never seen another of similar size. The silver inlay is amazing.

*Age... 1900-1940*

Thanks Vinca!

:hi:

[grasswire]

3. was the green meanie tray..

...made to be art, because of the hanger on the back? The eBay tray does not mention a hanger.

Also, I suspect that the green meanie tray is something other than egyptian.

It's beautiful! Great find.

[Gonzo Gardener]

4. Good question, grasswire...

if it's art I'm doing it wrong! I set it on top of a large lazy susan in the middle of our table for serving meals and hang it up when we want it out of the way.

I have been tempted to serve food directly on the tray (see photo below), but that might be as smart an idea as drinking wine out of an old pewter goblet.

It has to be from somewhere in the Middle East. The way in which it was etched and type of images on the tray could help identify exactly where it was made. I've even tried looking at textiles and rug designs for clues to its origin. I'm completely stumped on the text. I could make up one heck of a story about it... "Mozaffar al-Din Shah, the king of Persia, ate from this tray!"

[grasswire]

5. we used an old copper tray for cheeses..

...and it was disastrous. After just a couple of hours on the buffet table, there was some kind of a green and blue reaction between the softer cheeses and the copper. Ugh. If you use it for food, I would line it with something non-reactive.

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. Looks like Hindu or Sanskrit...maybe Tibetan?

Here's a sample:
(Hindu writing is originally from Sanskrit)




And here's a sample of Tibetan

[Gonzo Gardener]

8. Thank you, Whoa_Nelly!

The writing is highly stylized, like, some forms of calligraphy and not, unlike, some graffiti I've seen. I can't make heads or tales out of it. :crazy:

:hi:

[Duer 157099]

7. My guess is Moroccan table top

the hanger thing is probably added so it can be displayed, but I think these are originally intended as table tops.

[Gonzo Gardener]

9. Yep, yep...

you may be correct.

Many years ago, I set it atop an old iron plant stand and presto change-o... we had a coffee table!

Thanks, dotcosm :toast:

Now... on to the translation!

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. Wow! Check this out!

Found this tray, and the writing on it looks very much like the same as what's on yours:
http://www.trocadero.com/TheOldBazaar/items/547081/item547081.html

Turkish Persian Copper Tray with Silver Inlaid Bismilla


Says it's a Turkish Mamluk Revival tray



And look what this other one went for through Bonham's auction

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/wspd_cgi.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=ResultDescPrint&iSaleNo=13524
238 A Mamluk revival copper inlaid Tray Egypt or Syria, 19th Century £1,920

***WOW***
1,920.00 GBP = 3,760.17 USD


Some info re: Mamluk

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Mamluk.html

There is a lot out there re: Mamluk Turks...seems you have a real prize of a tray! :hi:

[Gonzo Gardener]

12. WOW...

you've done some real digging! Thank you very much, Whoa_Nelly! :hug: :yourock:

That tray with the silver inlay is really something. The tray I have doesn't have inlay... just a bit of silver on it, but the writing is very similar. (Gawd, it's driving me nuts not knowing what it says!)

Do you think it's possible that my tray was originally silver plated and it has almost all worn off? :shrug:

I did find this photo online... This Persian tabletop is in pretty rough shape, but has many similarities to mine.

[Whoa_Nelly]

14. I wish I had more info for you

You might want to post a question re: writing/language at this site:
http://www.allexperts.com/cl2/2752/Cultures/Turkish-Language/

And, if you read some some of the posts there, you can usually get an email address to directly contact an expert.
I've found great help there.

If you can, get an appraisal.

Here's a site for free appraisals:
http://www.jasonsjunk.com/

[grasswire]

11. to clarify...

...does your tray have silver inlay aside from that possible line around the outer edge?

[Gonzo Gardener]

13. No silver inlay.

It looks more like a layer of silver that has worn off over time. I wonder if it was silver plated and all but a tiny bit has been worn away. :shrug:

:hi: