IRAQ, 9TH CENTURY

Details

A SAMARRA LUSTRE POTTERY BOWL
IRAQ, 9TH CENTURY
Of rounded form with everted lip on short foot, the cream interior painted with small chevron-motifs around a bold human figure holding a spear, a palmette to one side and a short stylised kufic word to the other, lobed motifs around the rim, the exterior with concentric roundels on a dot and dash ground, an inscription under the foot, repaired breaks
8 1/8in. (20.7cm.) diam.

Provenance

Parish-Watson Collection, New York (label on underside).

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 15% on the buyer's premium

Lot Essay

Most Samarra lustre bowls with figural designs are typified by a sketchiness of drawing and zaniness of composition that makes the depiction on the present bowl look relatively realistic. A bowl in the Freer Gallery shows many of the features found here (Esin Atil, Ceramics from the World of Islam, Washington D.C., 1973, pp.18-19, no.3). Both have far more rectilinear drawing of the facial features than normal, have curls of hair coming in to their cheeks, wear small pointed hats, and have a similar spacing of the elements around the figure. And both have not only the same decoration on the exterior, but also an almost identical inscription under the foot, suggesting the probability that they are products of the same workshop.

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