A Fine Intact Kashan Lustre Pottery Bowl, Persia, Early 13th Century

of truncated conical form with flaring walls stepped down to a straight vertical foot, painted in lustre over the glaze with two confronted birds reserved in a cusped roundel in the centre, the walls with a band of kufic script reserved on a solid lustre ground lightly scratched through with coils and scrolls interrupted at regular intervals by four white-ground cartouches each enclosing a bold interlaced quatrefoil, the reverse with a band of abbreviated scrolls between line borders

Intact with no repair, lustre of strong colour and brilliantly metallic, excellent condition, 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."

An exceptional intact example of Kashan lustreware of brilliant colour and unusual design.

The motif of the paired confronted birds derives from Sassanian textiles and survives in various forms down into the Islamic period; it is, however, rare on lustreware. Whilst the majority of lustre designs are crowded with painted decoration, the present example is exceptional in its bold use of the space around the central motif using the white ground to offset the golden tone of the lustre.