Stunning antique Persian liquor serving set consisting of a tray, a decanter, and 6 small goblets. The set is done in the Minakari style of copper enameling. It likely comes from the Isfahan region. All pieces feature amazingly detailed designs, hand-painted in traditional Persian colors and ornaments. We estimate that it was made in the late 19th - early 20th century. The set has a few expected nicks and chips (please inspect pictures carefully), considering its age and the fact that copper is a soft metal. All colors are still vivid, with the dominating black, blue and orange. Each piece is lined with white enamel.
The tray has a medallion in the middle, with an intricate miniature painting of a mosque. All pieces in the set have a repeating design with the Huma bird - a mythical creature of ancient Persian fables and a frequent motif in Sufi poetry. Huma bird resembles phoenix, consuming itself in fire every few hundred years and then rising from ashes over and over again. According to mythology, Huma bird flies high above earth and never descends to the ground. In Ottoman poetry, the creature is often called the Bird of Paradise.
Measurements:
Tray dimensions: 13" x 7.75" (33 x 19.5 cm).
Goblet height: 3.5" (9 cm).
Decanter height 8.25" (21 cm).
Decanter widest point: 4.5" (11.5 cm).
Minakari (Meenakari) or Enameling is the art of painting intricate designs and ornaments over the surface of metals such as gold, silver, and copper by glazing colors and fire them in the furnace. Enameling and other decorative work on metals are particularly well-known handicrafts in Isfahan.
