A LARGE GHAZNAVID HIGH TIN BRONZE BOWL

NORTH EAST PERSIA OR AFGHANISTAN, 11TH/12TH CENTURY

Details

A LARGE GHAZNAVID HIGH TIN BRONZE BOWL
NORTH EAST PERSIA OR AFGHANISTAN, 11TH/12TH CENTURY
Of hemispherical form, the interior engraved with a central interlace roundel flanking and linked to a rosette, the sides with roundels formed of curving tapering bands rising from split palmette knotted motifs and terminating in confronted griffin-heads on a pounced ground between two broad bands of bold stylised benedictory kufic, the exterior also engraved with a hexagonal lattice enclosing panels containing rosettes on a ring-pounced ground, a band of kufic around the rim on similar ground, cracked, three missing pieces, areas of slight corrosion on exterior
15 1/8in. (38.3cm.) diam.

Lot Essay

This is the largest example of this known small group of figural engraved white bronze hemispherical Ghaznavid bowls to have been published. Two other smaller examples have been sold in these Rooms, 11 April 1989 lot 369 and 24 April 1990 lot 499. Both the present vessel and the 1990 one are rare in having both the exterior and interior decorated with large inscriptions.

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