A rare Ilkhanid carved stone roundel, Persia, 14th century

double-sided, carved in relief with the figure of a saddled horse grazing against a pale green ground, the obverse with an interlaced cursive inscription against a blue ground, the two faces aligned at 90 degrees

Riding Across Central Asia. Images of the Mongolian Horse in Islamic Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2001

in good condition, minor losses to extremities visible in catalogue illustration, minor loss to polychrome decoration, 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.
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The basmala

'In the name of God, The Compassionate, The Merciful.'

Inscription roundels are a feature of architecture found throughout the Islamic world, but with a notable presence and popularity in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. In Mamluk Egypt and Syria stone and sometimes ceramic roundels were incorporated into the portals and facades of buildings usually with the blazon of a particular sultan or emir. In Anatolia and Western Persia related forms of architectural ornament were adopted, sometimes depicting animals and birds. At Sultaniyya we find plaster roundels carved in relief with the background filled with blue paint, as here. Similar carved plaster is noted in Yazd and Abarquh; carved stone is recorded in the province of Azerbaijan.

Further dating clues are provided by stylistic comparisons with contemporary Ilkhanid manuscript illustration. The horse and saddle are similar to representations in the Manafi al-Hayawan and Jami al-Tawarikh of the period between 1290 and 1320. The basmala is consistent with calligraphy of the second quarter of the 14th century suggesting, either that it is contemporary, or that it was added to the obverse up to fifty years later.