NORTH EAST IRAN, 10TH CENTURY

Details

TWO NISHAPUR CALLIGRAPHIC POTTERY BOWLS
NORTH EAST IRAN, 10TH CENTURY
Each of conical form, one with the ground decorated under the glaze in red imitation lustre with kufic inscriptions in negative space within four cartouches across the cavetto alternating with birds, the other with the ground decorated with a central line of floriated kufic in transparent green glaze, each with exteriors decorated with alternating horizontal lines and arrow motifs, repaired breaks, areas of restoration
8 7/8in. (22.6cm.) and 8in. (20.3cm.) diam.

Provenance

Each excavated Village Tepe, Nishapur, 1946-7

Engraved

The bowl with bands of kufic alternating with birds. Repeats of the whole and parts of the word baraka 'blessing'

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

The striking green-colour used for the lettering on the smaller bowl offered here was found on many ceramics excavated from Nishapur. Like ours, many of them have calligraphic decoration and a distinctive exterior with arrows alternating with clusters of vertical dashes. Examples include one in the British Museum (acc.no.1957,0513.1) and another in the Sarikhani Collection (acc.no. I.CE.2140; Oliver Watson, Ceramics of Iran, London, 2020, no.29, p.81).

The larger bowl shares a similar design on the outside to these two suggesting that - although the colouring is different - there is a relationship between them. Another example of a conical bowl with a similar design executed on a chocolate brown ground, but not in green glaze, includes one in the Museum fur Islamische Kunst in Berlin (acc.no. I. 64 / 62). That example was also excataved in Nishapur, and has the enigmatic arrows around the exterior.

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