Zamora pyxis

The main body is cylindrical with a conical lid, joined with a silver hinge with niello detailing. The entire surface is carved in painstaking detail. The decoration is based on symmetry, depicting arabesques with intertwined stems, pine cones and flowers, harmoniously combined with pairs of gazelles, birds and peacocks that face one another and perch on their stems and leaves, in a very naturalistic expression. On the edge of the lid, an inscription in linear Kufic provides information about the piece: its intended recipient, the author and the date. The intended recipient was Subh, one of the caliph’s favourites, given as a gift for the birth of his first son, heir apparent of Al-Hakam. Gifts were the bases of the caliphs’ political and personal relationships, bestowed upon guests, senior court officials and family members to commemorate special occasions, and the container was just as important as the gift itself. It is one of the principal pieces of decorative art from the court workshop of Madinat al-Zahra, and one of the highest quality pieces amongst those conserved at other institutions.