Metal objects were very important in medieval Muslim society. People cooked in metal pans and basins. Sometimes spices and herbs were pounded in heavy metal mortars. Food was cooked and then served on various types of metal dishes that would be then placed on a large metal tray. The round tray would be set off the ground on a metal or wooden stand, making a low serving table. Drinks would be stored in metal bottles and jugs. From these they were poured into metal drinking cups. After a meal, both hosts and guests would wash their hands in metal basins. Incense might burn in metal incense burners. Lamps, candlesticks, and torch stands, all of metal, would help light the rooms and courtyards. The upper classes had further useful and decorative objects: pen cases, mirrors, tweezers, and jewelry boxes, and pails for bathing were all made out of metal. Predictions of good or ill fortune might be made at momentous times, such as at the birth of a child, or before an important battle. These predictions would be made using a metal astrolabe. Battles, of course, would entail extensive use of metal- swords, armor, decorative and protective devices for the horses, as well.
In all cultures, including the Near East, craftsmen imitated the most precious materials with less expensive media and techniques. The fashion for inlaid bronze or brass is based on silverwork. In precious silverwork, areas of niello inlay and gilding gave a three-color palette; in the plainer copies, brass was used instead of gold, the silver inlay used much smaller amounts of the precious metal, and niello, a combination of silver and sulfur, was replaced by a black bituminous compound. Some of the designs of the metal objects can be traced to Quranic illuminated manuscripts. Examples might be circles inscribed with arabesques. Other motifs were from illustrated astrological texts. Figures of horseback, warriors and hunters derive from wall-hangings. Inscriptions, originally meant to convey literal messages, became more decorative the instructive, and become a part of the over all design. Gold, silver and precious stones were valued, but the most prestigious craft was quality woven or embroidered textile. Therefore, textiles themselves were the inspiration for the designs on the metalwork. 25
Many objects such as dishes and goblets were made of high tin bronze, an alloy of about 80 percent copper and 20 percent tin. High tin bronze was well known in Iran from pre-Islamic times, but became very popular under Islam, possibly because its color shines like silver, but does not have silver’s association with luxurious living.. This would have been important to early followers of Mohammed, less important with the passage of time. The areas where this was produced were Khurasan, Transoxiana, and northern Jazira. These places had large deposits of copper, although the tin had to be brought in from South-East Asia.26
