IRAN, 19TH/20TH CENTURY

In Shi'a Islam, the cradle is visually associated with 'Abdullah 'Ali al-Asghar ibn al-Husayn (D.10 October 680), or simply Ali Asghar 'Younger Ali', who was the youngest child of Husayn (son of ‘Ali and grandson of the Prophet Muhammad). He was martyred during the Battle of Karbala, and is commemorated as the 'personified quintessence of the innocent victim'.

'Ali Asghar and his death are commemorated in various ways, including iconographic depictions, hagiography recitations (rawzah), poetry (nawhah), replicas of 'Ali Asghar's cradle and grave, and dolls representing him. In Muharram ceremonies and commemorations, Ali Asghar is represented as an innocent child suffering unbearable thirst. His death is mourned at length in rawza-khani (recital of the Rawdat al-Shuhada 'The Paradise of the Martyrs') literature and in early ta'ziya (passion play) traditions, a complete majlis was dedicated to 'Ali al-Asghar, with the infant's cradle a conspicuous element on the stage.

This present cradle would have been mounted on top of a standard and used as part of the passion play and public mourning marches during Muharram. Please refer to http://www.alawy.net/english/news/12617/ for a full account.

Post Lot Text

The USA prohibits the purchase by US persons of Iranian-origin “works of conventional craftsmanship” such as carpets, textiles, decorative objects, and scientific instruments. The US sanctions apply to US persons regardless of the location of the transaction or the shipping intentions of the US person. For this reason, Christie’s will not accept bids by US persons on this lot. Non-US persons wishing to import this lot into the USA are advised that they will need to apply for an OFAC licence and that this can take many months to be granted.