AN AFGHAN SILVER SAUCER of shallow rounded form with sunken central well, the interior engraved and originally inlaid with niello with three panels of scrollnig vine around naskh inscriptions, the panels divided by similar bird roundels, the underside of the rim with a simple engraved band of rope-pattern, the base with a small rosette roundel on a niello ground, circa 12th century (extensive cracks, some surface oxidation)

細節

AN AFGHAN SILVER SAUCER of shallow rounded form with sunken central well, the interior engraved and originally inlaid with niello with three panels of scrollnig vine around naskh inscriptions, the panels divided by similar bird roundels, the underside of the rim with a simple engraved band of rope-pattern, the base with a small rosette roundel on a niello ground, circa 12th century (extensive cracks, some surface oxidation)
6 1/8in. (15.6cm.) diam.

拍品專文

Tis is a rare example of the Persian silversmith's work of the 11-12th centuries. There seems to be no other example in silver of a shallow saucer with cavetto, though the form is known in bronze. There is, however, a small silver bowl published by Smirnov (Argenterie Orientale, no. 41, pl. XXIX) with rounded sides and decorated with a kufic inscription inside below the rim and a central roundel pertaining an eagle attacking a duck. This last is treated like the bird in our saucer. Like ours the engraved decoration is on a niello ground. The naskhi inscription of ours, however, seems to be decorative rather than meaningful.