Antique arabic calligraphy in bronze (I know its not a sword)
 

What do you peeps display with your weapons?
I just love Indian, indo-persian and arabic bronzes! I always have some to make my display of weapons from those cultures look a bit less like something Hannibal Lecter would own.
I've just picked this one up and wanted to share because it has really fine carving and calligraphy for a bronze dish. The patina on the 'front' was too patchy to save so I've polished it carefully and I'll let it dull back now. The back has a beautiful dark antique patina which I think may be leading me towards an 18thC date for this one.
Unfortunately I read Arabic like I breathe underwater!
The plate is about 35cm across, and is very thick weighing in at about 1kg.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...20dish/001.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...0dish/0001.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...20dish/002.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...20dish/003.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...20dish/004.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...dish/005-1.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...dish/006-1.jpg

Nice charger indeed, well made with great details. You are right - items like this look good with weapons. Nice wooden display racks and stands enhance presentation as well.
Is it engraved/chiseled, by the way? If it is - the back should display traces of tools/chisels. If the back is smooth - it could be acid-etched. I suspect it is both.

Hi Alex!
The wooden racks do indeed look great. As does your collection of swords!!!

The teeny charger is chiselled and hammered. There are traces of the larger punches showing through but its really thick metal so the finer detail and chiselling doesn't show.
The fishes around the border are really cute too!

How about adding some pictures of yours?

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...Bowl/002-6.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...Bowl/004-9.jpg