The research paper aims to shed light on two unpublished metal
pen boxes dating back to the Mamluk period in Egypt, it should
be noted that these metal pen boxes-the subject of the study- have
never been published before, as they will be studied and
published through archaeological, artistic and analytic study
applied to these group of metal artifacts consisting of two pen
boxes deposited and preserved in the museum store in the
archaeological area of Maria in Alexandria- Arab Republic of
Egypt. Metal artifacts were of great importance during the
Islamic ages in general and through the Mamluk era in particular,
where the Mamluk era is the proposed dating period for these
two pen boxes or these collection of metal artifacts - the subject
of the study -where it was noticed that metal artifacts were
widely used in the daily life of Muslims, perhaps this is due to its
light weight, small size, and strength and rigidity at the same
time. Copper, bronze and gold are also among the most common
raw materials used in the manufacture of metal artifacts during
the Mamluk period in Egypt.
This study has been divided into two parts; the first section deals
with the descriptive study including the main data of the antiques
and an explanation of the types of decorations included in the
metal collection. The second section deals with the analytical
study, which included the study and analysis of each masterpiece
with other corresponding or similar masterpieces of the same
type, whether they are preserved inside or outside Egypt, where
this will be according to the materials of the industry, the general
shape, the decorative shapes, and the functional purpose.