IRAN, 8TH/9TH CENTURY

Details

AN UMAYYAD OR EARLY ABBASID BRONZE EWER
IRAN, 8TH/9TH CENTURY
With spherical body on short foot, the tubular neck engraved with two bands of stylised scrolling vine, the handle with beading and pomegranate thumb-rest, minor dents to body, overall patination to surface, traces of gilding
11 ½in. (29.3cm.) high

Provenance

Previously in a Private Collection, New York, from at least 1986.
Sotheby’s, London, 15 October 1986, lot 120.
Private Collection, Germany, from at least 1989
Acquired by the Private Collection of Mr Lester Crancer (d.2007), USA, 3 January 1989 and thence by descent.

Special notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice. The USA prohibits the purchase by US persons of Iranian-origin “works of conventional craftsmanship” such as carpets, textiles, decorative objects, and scientific instruments. The US sanctions apply to US persons regardless of the location of the transaction or the shipping intentions of the US person. For this reason, Christie’s will not accept bids by US persons on this lot. Non-US persons wishing to import this lot into the USA are advised that they will need to apply for an OFAC licence and that this can take many months to be granted.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Behnaz Atighi Moghaddam Head of Sale

batighi@christies.com +44 20 7389 2509

Lot Essay

Ewers of this form were produced in Iran in the 8th-10th centuries and followed the general form of ewers from the Sasanian era made by Iranian metalworkers before the Islamic conquest. Such an Abbasid bronze ewer is in the Victoria & Albert Museum (inv.434-1906) and very similar to another which sold at Sotheby’s on 01 May 2019, lot 135.

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