Dervish's wallet
Kashkul (Dervish's Bow)
1850-1860 (made)
1850-1860 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The beggar's bowl or ‘kashkul’ was a sign of the religious poverty assumed by Islamic mystics. This function is reflected in the inscriptions used. On this ‘kashkul’ they include verses from the Qur'an as well as poetry in Persian praising the ‘kashkul’ in mystical terms.
This bowl is carved from half the shell of a huge nut. It is the fruit of the coco de mer palm which grows in the Seychelles Islands, in the Indian Ocean. The shell washes ashore in southern Iran.
The shell’s journey took on spiritual significance as a symbol of the dervish’s journey on the ocean of mystic knowledge. Many ‘kashkuls’ even have a ‘prow’ carved on them. Others have a small spout to make the bowl into a drinking vessel.
This bowl is carved from half the shell of a huge nut. It is the fruit of the coco de mer palm which grows in the Seychelles Islands, in the Indian Ocean. The shell washes ashore in southern Iran.
The shell’s journey took on spiritual significance as a symbol of the dervish’s journey on the ocean of mystic knowledge. Many ‘kashkuls’ even have a ‘prow’ carved on them. Others have a small spout to make the bowl into a drinking vessel.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | carved coconut shell |
| Brief description | Kashkul or dervish's bowl, carved coco de mer, Iran, Qajar period, 1850-60 |
| Physical description | Formed of half a double cocoa nut, carved, in low relief, with a horizontal registers of foliated designs alternating with devotional inscriptions. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Gallery label | Sufism is the inner or esoteric spritual dimension of Islam. Some Sufi sages, or dervishes, carried alms bowls like the two displayed here, both for practical and symbolic purposes. The alms bowl symbolized the individual's passive receptivity to God.
SUFI ALMS BOWL (KASHKUL)
Iran, 19th century
Coco de mer
7345-1861(5 June 2000) |
| Production | Persia |
| Summary | The beggar's bowl or ‘kashkul’ was a sign of the religious poverty assumed by Islamic mystics. This function is reflected in the inscriptions used. On this ‘kashkul’ they include verses from the Qur'an as well as poetry in Persian praising the ‘kashkul’ in mystical terms. This bowl is carved from half the shell of a huge nut. It is the fruit of the coco de mer palm which grows in the Seychelles Islands, in the Indian Ocean. The shell washes ashore in southern Iran. The shell’s journey took on spiritual significance as a symbol of the dervish’s journey on the ocean of mystic knowledge. Many ‘kashkuls’ even have a ‘prow’ carved on them. Others have a small spout to make the bowl into a drinking vessel. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 7345-1861 |
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| Record created | June 16, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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