Grille de protection faisant office de pare-feu... Lot n° 248

Afghanistan, Kabul, 19th century Two finely openwork brass plates, held together by riveted steel rods. The arched main plate is decorated with hunting scenes (feline, game, falcon, etc.) framed by two makaras (mythical aquatic animal), and overlaid with Persian poetic verses in nasta'liq script. Borders decorated with arabesques. Attractive steel handle. Dim. 71 x 71 cm While the place of manufacture is clearly indicated, the dating can be understood in two distinct ways. Application of the abjab system (numerical value of letters) gives the date of 1253 A.H. (= 1837-8), while a faint inscription gives the number 1292 (?), which would indicate the date 1875-6. Inscriptions : - in mushabbak qit'a ra dar dahr-i kabul sakhtan pish-i ru-yi mawj-i atish parda chun gul sakhtan 'Making this latticed piece in the Kabul era (in the Kabul way?) is to make a curtain like a flower in front of the wave of fire'. 'Making this latticed piece in the age (manner?) of Kabul, Is making a curtain like a flower in front of the wave of fire.' - thabt-i in tarikh ra az sunbul (u) gul sakhtan The recording of this date is from the 'making of hyacinth (and) rose'. 'The recording of this date is from "making the hyacinth (and) the rose.'" A finely openwork brass protecting grill, acting as a fire-wall, Kabul, Afghanistan, 19th century The abjad chronogram 'Making the hyacinth (and) the rose' has a value of 1253, which would be equivalent to the date 1837-8. Another inscription looks like the number 1292(?) which would give a date of 1875-6.