A LARGE SAFAVID BLUE AND WHITE POTTERY DISH

PROBABLY KIRMAN, SOUTH EAST IRAN, FIRST HALF 17TH CENTURY

Details

A LARGE SAFAVID BLUE AND WHITE POTTERY DISH
PROBABLY KIRMAN, SOUTH EAST IRAN, FIRST HALF 17TH CENTURY
Of rounded form on short vertical foot, with curved sides and slightly flaring rim, painted in cobalt blue on white glaze, interior with moulded fish scale design set inside four cusped interlocking palmettes, centre with cobalt blue diamond cartouche containing scrolling floral vine, surrounded by alternating two-part cusped palmettes and quatrefoil cartouches containing scrolling vine, cavetto with stylised floral spray, three haircracks and four chips to rim, Chinese-style seal on base, intact
16 1/8in. (41.5cm.) diam.

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Lot Essay

A related dish to that offered here is in the Louvre (inv.4782, Istanbul, Isfahan, Delhi. 3 Capitals of Islamic Art. Masterpieces from the Louvre Collection, exhibition catalogue, 2008, no.98, p.223). The decoration of the bowl plays with the contrast of the bold blue geometric designs on the stark white background. Like the Louvre example, ours is unusual in that it has a divergent composition that can be viewed from any angle. Yolande Crowe, in her discussion on this group, refers to them as "possibly the most sophisticated group of Persian ceramics of Safavid times" (Persia and China. Safavid Blue and White Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum 1501-1738, London, 2002, p.124).

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