A rare Kashan Minai Bowl depicting Faridun, Kava and Zahhak, Persia, late 12th/early 13th century

of rounded form with slightly everted rim on a short foot, decorated with a turquoise glaze painted with grey, black and gold, the interior with a scene from the Shahnameh showing Faridun, Kava, and Zahhak, with the central figure of King Faridun riding a cow, other two figures looking inward surrounded by flower and bird motifs, inscription in Kufic around the rim with gilded outer rim, reverse inscribed in Persian above a frieze of teardrop and lozenge-form decorative shapes

Paravicini Collection, Italy
Croisier Collection, Switzerland

Islam et art figuratif, Musée d'art et d'histoire, Geneva, 1984, p.20, no.25.
Treasures of Islam, Musée d'art et d'histoire, Geneva, 1985, p.230-231, no.232.
Céramiques du monde musulman, Institut du monde arabe, Paris, 1999, p.119.
Perpetual Glory, Medieval Islamic Ceramics From The Harvey B. Plotnick Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2007.

O. Pancaroglu, Perpetual Glory, Medieval Islamic Ceramics From The Harvey B. Plotnick Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2007, pp.112-113, no.70.

Overall good condition, broken and repaired with associated retouching, abrasions and craquelure to the glaze, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

inscriptions

Around the exterior rim:
A benedictory Persian quatrain and the beginning of a signature.

[hamvare to-ra dawlat o 'izz afzun bad
eqbal-e to bugzashte] ze hadd birun bad
ta harche azin qadah be-kam-e to rasad
ey sadr-e jahan to-ra be-jan afzun bad

'May your wealth and glory always increase,
May your prosperity surpass all limits,
So whatever reaches your palate from this bowl,
O master of the World! May add to your life
It was written in...'

For similar verses see, Ernst J. Grube, Cobalt and Lustre, The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, vol. IX, 1994, nos 261, 272, 277 and 283.

Those in Kufic around the inner rim, undeciphered.