- 167
A Pair of Raqqa Pottery Fat-Tailed Sheep, Ayyubid Syria, First half of 13th Century
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
made in moulds, the figures stand on a flat base and are decorated to the body, horns and face with splashes of cobalt blue and manganese purple under a transparent colourless glaze
Provenance
Ex-Drouot - Richelieu, Paris 14 April 1994, Lot 241
Condition
intact, glaze heavily iridised, 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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
The attribution to Raqqa is on the basis of the buff-white fabric, the crazed iridescent glaze and the distinctive manganese and cobalt splashes that characterise the so-called "Laqabi" wares that Watson, Porter and others have shown beyond doubt to be the product of the Raqqa kilns. In addition there are a number of other published examples. A Raqqa animal figure of similar type decorated with turquoise glaze is in the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, see Soustiel 1985, no.97; and a further example is in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Istanbul, see Ertug 1993, p.142.