A magnificent Safavid ewer and basin inscribed with verses from Sa'di and Hafiz, Persia, 16th century

the ewer of pyriform shape supported on a raised narrow foot, the serpentine spout with dragon-head finial, the narrow waisted neck with bulbous ring and flanged terminal, engraved and enamelled with horizontal registers of pendant palmettes enclosing scrolling tendrils issuing split and full-palmettes, the shoulder with calligraphic cartouches, the basin of squat globular form supported on a short narrow foot with a broad flanged rim, the interior rim engraved with calligraphic cartouches on a hatched ground of scrolling tendrils, bordered by an arcade of palmettes, the rim with further calligraphic cartouches alternating with quatrefoils, traces of polychrome enamel, a removable open-work filter, possibly later, pierced with a radiating pendant palmette medallion with central knop, the well engraved with a rosette medallion encircled by lotus palmettes radiating further pendant palmettes

inscriptions

Two couplets from the Gulistan of Sa'di.

Owner's name as:  'Its owner Khan Muhammad' 

On the base: Couplets from a ghazal of Hafiz.