Name of Object:

Lunch box (m’raq)

Location:

Algiers, Algeria

Holding Museum:

National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Arts

About National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Arts, Algiers

Date of Object:

Hegira 925–1245 / AD 1519–1830

Museum Inventory Number:

II.MI.038

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Hammered and incised copper.

Dimensions:

Height 32.5 cm, diameter 16.5 cm

Period / Dynasty:

Ottoman

Provenance:

Algiers.

Description:

The object, cylindrical in shape, is composed of four parts stacked one above the other, and a lid with a semi-circular handle. The whole is connected by two flat vertical plates that are attached to the lid via two hooks, and which are decorated with zigzag dots.
The four parts are ornamented with floral decoration – alternating stylised acanthus leaves and tulips. The lid is enhanced by a geometric decoration (zigzag lines).
Although the function of this object is for the transportation and serving of various dishes, some suggest that it is a hammam utensil, which would have been used by women in the past for carrying required bath items.

This cylindrical food container consists of four superposed parts decorated with floral patterns and fitted with a lid with a semi-circular handle decorated with geometric motifs. The whole is bound together with vertical metal bands that are attached to the lid by means of two hooks.

How date and origin were established:

From the style of the floral elements (tulip, acanthus leaf), employed in abundance by the Algerian brassware manufacturers of the period for the decoration of everyday objects.

How provenance was established:

Algiers was the main centre of manufacture for this type of brassware.

Selected bibliography:

Eudel, P., Dictionnaire des bijoux de l'Afrique du Nord, Maroc, Algérie, Tripolitaine, Paris, 1906.
Marçais, G., Le musée Stéphane Gsell, musée des antiquités et d'art musulman d'Alger, Algiers, 1950.
Marius, V., Les industries d'art indigène en Algérie, Algiers, 1902.

Citation of this web page:

Ali Benbella "Lunch box (m’raq)" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;dz;Mus01;32;en

Prepared by: Ali BenbellaAli Benbella

Maître-assistant à l'Institut d'archéologie de l'université d'Alger, titulaire d'un magister en archéologie islamique, conservateur du patrimoine archéologique et historique, ancien chef du service Conservation et Valorisation (section islamique) au Musée national des antiquités, Ali Benbella a participé à plusieurs fouilles sur les sites médiévaux algériens de Mansourah (Tlemcen) et Achir (Médéa). Il a contribué à la réalisation de plusieurs expositions et catalogues établis par le Musée national des antiquités, entre autres Arts Céramiques et L'art islamique d'après une collection privée, et participé à la deuxième conférence sur les “Musées de la Méditerranée, nouveaux concepts et nouvelles perspectives” (Stockholm, 09-12 mai 2003).
Parmi ses publications, il faut citer sa contribution aux Cahiers d'Achir (rapport de fouilles, 1994), ainsi que plusieurs articles en arabe dans la revue Annales du Musée national des antiquités, le dernier sous le titre : “Pavillon des arts islamiques du Musée national des antiquités”. Il est l'auteur, dans le Medelhavsmuseet Bulletin (Stockholm, 2004), d'un article en anglais intitulé : “The National Museum of Antiquities in Algiers”.
Copyedited by: Margot Cortez
Translation by: Maria Vlotides
Translation copyedited by: Monica Allen

MWNF Working Number: AL 57