The 19th and 20th centuries saw the revival of the demand for Mamluk style artworks. Metalwork of the Mamluk period (1250–1517) in particular, was renowned for its lavishly inlaid surfaces. This large circular tray from Egypt is decorated with octagonal panels of calligraphy with scrolling arabesque and roundels on geometric ground. The calligraphy featured is a mix of thulth and foliated kufic. The interesting thing about this piece is that although the tray is circular, the designs have been arranged in a manner more appropriate for a rectangular object, suggesting perhaps the artisans worked from template designs they could use on vessels of different sizes and shapes.
