A Rare Umayyad or Early Abbasid Pottery Jug, Persia or Near East, 7th-9th Century

body of roughly cylindrical body with rounded shoulder and funnel-shaped mouth, applied strap handle joined at the shoulder, the body with moulded decoration comprised of a lattice design above a raised horizontal moulding and a lower frieze of stiff vertical leaves, glazed in yellow and green

breaks, some losses and glaze chips expertly restored with plaster and over-painting, 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 elegant and unusual jug relates to vessels of comparable shape and size, some glazed some not, found in early Islamic sites from the shores of the Mediterranean to the heart of Central Asia. Compare for instance, the well-known jug from Susa now in the Louvre (Lane 1947, pl. 7A; and Soustiel 1985, reproduced in colour on p.31) and unglazed jugs such as the one found in the al Sabah collection (Watson 2004, p.100, cat. Aa.8). Their delicacy and finesse marks the genesis of fine pottery production at the start of the Islamic period, galvanised by consumer demand and the influx of high quality wares from China.