CENTRAL IRAN, CIRCA 1200

Details

A MINA'I POTTERY BOWL
CENTRAL IRAN, CIRCA 1200
Of conical form, the white ground decorated in a variety of overglaze enamels with six naskh bands within cartouches across the cavetto, the thin rim decorated with a row of black triangles, the reverse with a band of loose black naskh between red rules, small stylised red floral motifs below, repaired breaks, small areas of restoration
8 7/8in. (22.6cm.) diam.

Provenance

Excavated Saveh, 1936

Engraved

In the radiating bands al-‘izz [al-]da’im wa’l-iqbal [al-]za ’id wa’l-nasr al-ghalib wa’l-dawa[la?] … wa’l-sala ma wa’l-kar[a]ma wa’l-baqa … al-sa … ‘izz baqa a shadi ‘izz baqa a shadi az tu mabad [khali], ‘Perpetual glory and increasing success and triumphant success and turn of good fortune(?) … and well-being and generosity and long life … Glory, long life, joy. May glory, long life, joy never be [absent] from you’

Further Details

Some countries prohibit or restrict the purchase and/or import of Iranian-origin property. Bidders must familiarise themselves with any laws or shipping restrictions that apply to them before bidding on these lots. For example, the USA prohibits dealings in and import of Iranian-origin “works of conventional craftsmanship” (such as carpets, textiles, decorative objects, and scientific instruments) without an appropriate licence. Christie’s has a general OFAC licence which, subject to compliance with certain conditions, would enable a buyer to import this type of lot into the USA. If you intend to use Christie’s licence, please contact us for further information before you bid.

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

Although mina'i ware is probably best known for the examples decorated with figural scenes, a small number survive with bold aniconic or calligraphic designs. An unusual sherd in the al-Sabah collection combines lustre with a similar calligraphy to that seen here, turquoise blue within a black outline (acc.no. LNS 877; Oliver Watson, Ceramics from Islamic Lands, London, 2004, p.364, cat.no.P.1.). A small number of bowls with aniconic designs are also in the Khalili Collection, including an example organised around a six-pointed stellar motif (POT1045; Ernst J Grube, Cobalt and Lustre: the First Centuries of Islamic Pottery, London, 1994, p.216, no.237).

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