A Sari ware Pottery Bowl Depicting a bird, northern Persia, 10th/11th century

the earthenware body painted with red, purple and white slips, depicting a plump and ornamented bird with an elongated comb and tail feathers, flanked by two floral medallions, the interstices with thin vegetal stems and small rosettes

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, p.72, no.30

Overall good condition, slight irridescence on the well and cavetto of bowl, abrasions to the pigments, 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."

The tradition of slip-painting established in the tenth century at Nishapur and Samarqand continued up until the eleventh/twelfth century at other more provincial centres. One distinct type, much coveted by collectors, is so-called "Sari ware", named after the town in northern Iran where finds were supposedly made in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, see Watson, O., Ceramics from Islamic Lands, Kuwait National Museum, The al-Sabah Collection, London, 2004, p.243.