A Large Pottery Storage Vessel, Umayyad or Almohad Spain, 11th-12th Century

of deep cylindrical drum form with a flat base and raised moulding around the rim, decorated around the body with an upper frieze of foliated kufic above the body decorated with medallions each encircling either a flowerhead or animal, including a griffin, lion and deer, with large, scrolling arabesques interspersed throughout

In overall fairly good condition, broken and restored with clear repair lines visible on the interior, some surface discoloration and abrasion, 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

Twice:  al-sa'ada  'Happiness'

This large storage vessel is comparable to several examples made both during the Spanish Umayyad Caliphate (909-1031) and the Almohad dynasty (1145-1232). A similar, Umayyad pottery storage vessel was sold in these rooms on 5 October 2010, lot 72. It is interesting to note the description of that vessel was as a container for liquids, possibly drinking water; the vessel in this sale would have probably served the same purpose. Another related vessel, but dated to the Almohad dynasty (twelfth-thirteenth Century) is illustrated in Martínez Caviró, B., Cerámica hispanomusulmana. Andalusí y mudéjar, Madrid, 1991, no.34. The present storage vessel shares similar characteristics to both of these examples, notably, the form, which is deep and cylindrical with a slightly flared rim, as well as the green and dark beige colours used in the decoration.

Another three examples, from the Museo Arqueológico, Cordoba, and the Museo Arqueológico, Madrid, are illustrated in Paris, 2001, pp.134-135 and 148, figs. 135, 160 and 161. These include a large cylindrical vessel dated to the tenth/eleventh Centuries from Andalusia (Cordoba, inv. 617), which would definitely have been used as a container for liquids as it has a spout at the bottom. It is partially decorated in the cuerda seca technique with a zig-zag and wave pattern to the rim with a single band of repeating heart-shapes leading to the spout. The other two examples were used as well-brinks and share similar stylistic motifs with the illustrated storage vessel such as open palmettes and a floral script. These are in the Museo Arqueológico, Madrid (inv. 12378) and Cordoba (inv. 7515).