CENTRAL IRAN, 13TH CENTURY

Details

A KASHAN MOULDED LUSTRE AND COBALT BLUE POTTERY TILE
CENTRAL IRAN, 13TH CENTURY
Of rectangular form, the golden brown lustre ground with spiralling leafy vine highlighted in turquoise around a moulded cobalt-blue strong naskh inscription, raised border above and below with small lustre naskh calligraphy, minor areas of chipping, otherwise intact
7¼ x 15¾in. (19.1 x 40cm.)

Provenance

Private collection, the Netherlands, by repute by descent, and certainly by 2006.
Christie's London, 8 April 2008, Lot 1, where acquired by the present owner.

Engraved

bismillah al-rahman al-rahim, 'In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate'

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Brought to you by

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Lot Essay

The frieze from which this tile comes is typified by a very fine glaze quality and unusually successful firing of the lustre. Five tiles and three corner tiles from the series are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Carboni and Masuya, 1993, no.21, p.26). Another was in the collection of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan (Geneva, 1985, no.237, p.235; London, 2007, no.21b, p.45). Two more are in the Museum für Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt (Müller-Wiener, 1996, no.147 a and b, pp.140-1). Further examples have been at auction. See for example Sotheby's, Geneva, June 1985, lot 213; Sotheby's London 25 April 2005, lot 111, Bonhams London, 2 May 2001, lots 291 and 292, and Christie's, London, 29 April 2003, lot 107.

For another tile of the same type, and a short note on the group, please see lot 37 in the present sale.

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