CENTRAL ASIA, 19TH CENTURY OR EARLIER

The Persian word kashkul represents the oval or boat-shaped beggar’s bowl made of coco-de-mer, metal or wood that dervishes carried and used to collect donations. Kashkuls often bore inscriptions and supplications in Arabic and Persian, and sometimes depicted well known religious scenes. For a full discussion on the kashkul and the origin of its form please see A.S. Melikian-Chirvani, 'From the Royal Boat to the Beggar's Bowl', Islamic Art, Vol. IV, 1991, pp.3-111).