AN ABBASID LUSTRE BOWL

Details

AN ABBASID LUSTRE BOWL
MESOPOTAMIA, 9TH CENTURY

Of rounded form with everted rim on short foot, the interior painted in dark brown lustre with dots around the central large figure of a deer suckling her fawn, a pronounced roundel in the centre of each, a stylised inscription above the body, a band of lobed motifs around the rim, the exterior with a band of concentric circles containing banded decoration on a ground of dot and dash motifs, the underside of the foot with a brief inscription, clean repaired breaks, small area of restoration
6¾in. (17.1cm.) diam.

Literature

Drexel, Thomas: Handwerk und Kunst in Persien, Städtisches Museum, Braunschweig, 1991, col.pl. III

Lot Essay

The subject of a mother animal with her offspring suckling can also be seen on a slightly larger Abbasid lustre bowl depicting camels in the Louvre, Paris (Koechlin, R and Migeon, G.: Oriental Art -- Ceramics, Fabrics, Carpets, London, n.d., pl.VI. The lustre on the present piece is remarkably well fired, contrasting with the somewhat pale mustard-yellow colour normally encountered.

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