KHORASSAN, LATE 15TH CENTURY

Details

A FINE TIMURID ROUNDED BOWL
KHORASSAN, LATE 15TH CENTURY
Of globular shape with high shoulder, the finely engraved decoration arranged in spiralling ribs formed by rounded medallions, alternatively decorated with a bold inscription in interlocking thuluth script and with floral sprays and scrolls including lotuses, roses and bands of Chinese clouds, on cross hatched ground, the underside a later replacement, the lid from a 14th century vessel and engraved with a repeated medallion inscribed al-sultan arranged between lotus roundels, remains of black paste inlay, minor dents, otherwise in very good condition
6¼in. (16cm.) diam.

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Lot Essay

A bowl of similar shape, although with its original foot and lid is published in Assadullah Souren Melikian-Chirvani, Islamic Metalwork from the Iranian World, 8-18th centuries, Victoria and Albert Museum Catalogue, London, 1982, cat.111, pp.252-253. However with its high shoulder, the present bowl's profile is inverted from the example published in Melikian-Chirvani and the original shape was probably misunderstood when this bowl was restored. The shape is a module used in late 15th century jugs. The decoration is arranged identically on both bowls, with twisted bands slanting downwards, divided the body in cartouches engraved with inscriptions and floral meanders. The floral decoration is particularly ambitious and the lotus flowers very elegantly drawn. This floral scheme can also be paralleled with that decoration a beggar's bowl (kashkul) in the Victoria and Albert Museum and dated circa 1500 (Melikian-Shirvani, op.cit., cat.112, pp.253-254).

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