Saltcellar inscribed with Poem about Salt, between 1664 and 1665

  • Islamic, Indian

Copper and tin

  • Overall (including lid): 3 1/2 × 3 3/4 inches (8.9 × 9.5 cm)

City of Detroit Purchase

30.432

Inscribed, in Persian, translation by Shadi Shafiei (26 August 2021) [translation: A saltcellar as tight as an ant’s heart, [And yet] enough salt to bring passion into the world. I sucked its lip and immediately was beside myself, The euphoric wine that gives intoxication has salt [in it]. The host would first bring a saltcellar to the table. Owned by the sinful slave Muhammad Hosein year 1075 (1664/1665 A.D).] [transliteration by Shadi Shafiei: Namakdāni bi tangi chun dil-i mur | Namak chandān ki dar giti fitad shur || Labash makidam o dar dam zi khishtan raftam | Sharāb-i shur ki masti dahad namak dārad || Mizbān avval namakdān bar sar-i khān āvarad || Sahibuhou al ‘Abd al-Muzannib Muhammad Hosein sana-i 1075]

(Arthur Upham Pope)

1930-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

Islamic, Indian, Saltcellar inscribed with Poem about Salt, between 1664 and 1665, copper and tin. Detroit Institute of Arts, City of Detroit Purchase, 30.432.