Large 30" Middle Eastern Arabic Tinned Copper Tray Signed

Not unlike Cairo ware, and the origin of CW. My humble but antique Damascus ware bowl, bottom view:

 

Wonder what Mr. Moon’s basic technique is (see pix of his work a few posts back.)

 

A “Joseph” tray like mine but smaller

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-PE...156485?hash=item3d877d89c5:g:3NEAAOSwJEhco13O

 

The info is on his website...http://www.moonmetalsmithing.com/about.html
Events link he has been teaching Turkish metal work,etc. based in Pennsylvania

 

Nice. Is the top side decorated or plain?

 

Plain, the inside really, so it could be used. And it looks like it was, maybe for rose water. Around the sides are blessings in an old style calligraphy.

 

I had three different Middle-Eastern people look at the “signature” today and they all said it wasn’t clear enough and the image may not be complete in the unlighted area. I’ve had such experiences before, if any of the tiny diacritical points are missing, that’s a dead-end. Suggest get a good, sharp, well-lighted image and I’ll try again.

 

But did any of them know how to read old Turkish/Ottoman script?

 

Dang it! I KNEW I had forgotten something when I wrote the VTQT (volunteer translator qualification test!)

 

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As Paul Harvey would have said, "Here's the rest of the story"... I didn't know where to start, so I started at the bottom below the main image. I captured the copy above the pictures as well just in case we find a translator.

 

I'm sorry I sent so many images... I don't know what happened.

 

The thumbnails seem to be in the correct order to tell the story, but I'm not sure where it starts. It looks like the entire tray was tinned at one time as the edges are still the worn silver color. Sorry about the color variations.

 

Here are the signatures right side up and upside down but I don't know which is which.

 

Spring, I sent the new images below. I just answered on someone else's post. Thank you

 

nice tray.....lot's of nice work.............njoy it !

 

It is truly beautiful, Jerry. You will probably need an Iranian scholar to interpret the scenes.

That is artistic calligraphy, which most readers of Arabic and Farsi won't be able to decipher. The signature is another story, it looks good and a Farsi speaker should be able to read it. Are there any Persians/Iranians or Afghani people in your area?

 

I'm sure there are. Thanks for your help. What a great bunch of contributors!