A Nishapur Pottery Dish, Central Asia, 10th Century

of truncated conical form with straight flaring walls and short finely-turned foot, decorated with brown and red slips on a cream slip ground with a central lobed motif in a roundel enclosed by a radial kufic inscription with elegant lettering separated by shaped panels with dots and stippling framed by a saw-tooth border around the rim

breaks and repairs, complete, some touching in along the breaks, glaze intact, bright and glassy, 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."

This unusual little bowl is finely potted with an elegant and well-turned foot indicative of an accomplished potter. The painted decoration is also of a high calibre and lends a monumentality that belies its compact size. The 'Picassoid' filler motifs in the interstices of the design are strongly reminiscent of the celebrated bowl in the Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, which was found at Nishapur (see Atil 1973, no.12, pp.36-37; and Soustiel 1985, p.54, fig.32, illustrated in colour)

inscriptions
kull fiha haniyan mariyan

'May all eaten from this [bowl] be wholesome'