RARE Museum Quality Sufi Dervish Copper Kashkul Alms Bowl1883 QADRI Named & Dated Persian Islamic

Absolutely amazing antique copper Kashkul with beautiful Persian calligraphy as follows:

Top line: “Allah Mohammad Ali Fatima Hassan Hussain”

Bottom line: “Amal Ahmad [Midhtan] Shah Qadri Khadam Al Faqir wal Miskeen….1300”

We have had some help in reading the inscriptions but we could not make out the full name so not sure if the second name is “Midthan” and what it says after “Miskeen” most likely it will be the village or town that the Dervish was from or the place this bowl as made.

This wonderful bowl was made in1300 (in the Islamic calendar) which was 1883 making this delightful antique Alms bowl over 140 years old!

The top line is a typical inscription on these types of bowls.

The first word on the second line means “made by” or “the work of” and then it is followed by the name of the Sufi mystic / ascetic who made this by hand almost 150 years ago!

“Faqir” and “Miskeen” are difficult to translate but have a general meaning of destitute and impoverished. Sufi ascetics (called Dervishes in Persia) reject the worldly life and seek spiritual enlightenment through an austere, simple lifestyle. A bit like the Christian hermits who isolated themselves and relied on charity from local villagers.

There are dragon-like terminals at each end of the bowl from which the chain is attached for carrying around. Unlike hermits who would remain a whole lifetime in a cave, the Dervish would wander the world seeking knowledge of the Divine.

These types of bowls are sometimes incorrectly called “Beggar’s Bowls” as the correct term is “Alms Bowl” – these mystics relied on the charity of others and expected to be provided things like cooked rice, lentils, broth, milk water etc which would be placed inside the bowl.

The boat shape is typical of these types of bowls that were made over a period of around 500 years (1400’s-1900’s). Many have NO inscriptions at all so it is wonderful not only to have the date but also information about the Dervish who made this precious piece of history around 150 years ago.

Dervish alms bowls were made of various metals such as iron, tin, copper and also wood and coco-de-mer shells. They vary in size from small ones to this one which is of the LARGER size measuring just over 320mm end to end, 130mm widest point and 100mm in height.

This type of bowl was made for personal use over a lifetime of mysticism but they were often handed down through several generations either through the family or through the order (group) or “tareeqa”.

The use of the name or title “Qadri” would suggest that the maker of this Alms Bowl was a devotee of the Qadri or Qadriyya Tareeqa.

This rare, museum quality Dervish Alms bowl is in amazing condition as show in the images provided.

It has a lovely aged patina to the copper and would be an amazing centre piece of any collection!

We have included a 400 year old painting showing a Persian Sufi carrying a similar kashkul and blowing a horn (British Museum) as well as an example in the world famous Aga Khan Museum.

We have also included two examples of prices: one basic SMALLER one that has NO inscriptions therefore no details or age or who made it sold for £325 and a good quality example which is older than ours that sold for £22,600.

This one has no attachment/holes for a chain so it would have been carried in something like a knapsack (a rucksack).

We are always coming across rare and unusual antiques through our contacts and networks of dealers and collectors built up over 30 years of dealing. Please feel free to drop us a message if you are looking for anything specific.