This page was created by Qianqian Wang.
Reclining Cat: Where was this object produced?
This bronze reclining cat sculpture was created in Iran during the 12th to 13th century. Given the period and the nature of the object, it would have likely been produced in a specialized workshop where skilled artisans practiced metalworking and bronze casting. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the art of metalwork was highly developed in the region of Persia. Workshops would have been places where master craftsmen passed down their skills and knowledge to apprentices. The use of bronze and the technique of inlaying with copper suggests that this workshop would have had the knowledge and resources to work with different metals and create intricate designs. The incised cartouches and the inlaid copper features on the cat indicate a high level of artistic and technical skill. Such works were often commissioned by patrons of high status, such as members of the royal court or wealthy individuals. These workshops might have been privately owned by a master craftsman or could have been part of a larger guild system that was common in many medieval cities for various trades, including metalworking.