DAMASCUS, SYRIA, CIRCA 1420-50

Details

A MAMLUK HEXAGONAL POTTERY TILE
DAMASCUS, SYRIA, CIRCA 1420-50
The white ground painted in cobalt-blue with a tall bulbous bottle topped with ribbons flanked by swaying foliage
7 ½in. (19cm.) across

Provenance

Lockwood de Forest, late 19th century, and thence by descent to the present owner

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

Sara Plumbly

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Lot Essay

The motif of a tall bulbous bottle decorating this tile derives from the ewer found on a series of Mamluk tiles. A related motif, with two symmetrical handles but no spout, is in the Victoria and Albert Museum and attributed to Damascus, circa 1420-50 (inv.no.409-1898).
For a short discussion on tiles decorated with ewers, see lot 17.

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