Inkwell with the Name of Amir 'Abdullah ibn al-Hasan Pars

Excavated by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1939 in Nishapur, Iran, this 11th-century inkwell exemplifies a type of writing implement commonly used by calligraphers in the medieval Islamic world. Known in Arabic as mihbara and in Persian as dāwat, inkwells served both practical and symbolic purposes. They stored and protected ink from contamination by dirt and dust, while also reflecting the social and spiritual significance attributed to writing in Islamic culture. Because the written word is viewed as an extension of the word of God, writing instruments such as inkwells and reed pens (qalam) were often beautifully decorated and collected by both practitioners and elites.

This inkwell, for example, features Arabic script as its primary decoration. The inscription reads, "The client, the Amir 'Abdallah ibn al-Hasan Pars," a declaration of ownership that reflects the patron's access to luxury craftsmanship. Adding to the object's visual richness is the use of floriated Kufic script, a highly stylized version of Kufic script that interweaves geometric forms with floral, curvilinear ornamentation between the letters. Floriated Kufic was particularly utilized as decoration due to its beauty and complexity.

You can learn more about Arabic calligraphy, its tools, and its many uses by exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art's learning resources on Arabic Script and the Art of Calligraphy.