SAFAVID IRAN, FIRST HALF 17TH CENTURY

This rare design of this dish relates to a very similar example in the al-Sabah collection which has been attributed to a distinct group of pottery known as Kubachi wares (Oliver Watson, Ceramics from the Islamic Lands, London, 2004, no.U.12., p.460). Named after the Dagestani city of Kubachi in the North Caucasus, many of these 16th and 17th century pieces were found on the walls of houses, but they have since been reattributed to Tabriz. The potteries were probably set up by craftsmen from Samarqand during the 15th century and at first produced a very different type of pottery, of direct Chinese influence (op. cit., no.U.7, p.455). The location of these potteries in northwest Iran made them vulnerable as the region was subject to Ottoman invasions and the fish scale decoration around the rim and colour palette of the dish clearly show the influence of Iznik wares. The rare design shows an elegant youth wearing a turban very much in fashion under the reign of Shah ‘Abbas I (r.1588-1629). Although the style in which the subject is depicted seems to follow contemporary Safavid manuscript painting, it breaks with tradition. Whilst earlier Persian portraits depict their subjects in full, our dish portrays the youth from the bust up and this innovative decorative choice even suggests a European influence (Eser Sahibi Yok, Istanbul, Isfahan, Delhi. 3 Capitals of Islamic Art. Masterpieces from the Louvre Collection, Istanbul, 2008, pp.216-17).