A rare Abbasid splash ware plate, Iran or possibly Egypt, circa 8th/9th century

of shallow form with flattened gently everted rim, decorated with splashed lead glazes in dark brown, amber, yellow and green with a central stylised six-petalled rosette enclosed by leaves and scrolls

breaks with repairs and associated infill and touching in along the breaks lines, some glaze losses in the interior also touched in, rim chips and other small losses, surface wear concentrated in the well, 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 form of splash ware has much in common with Chinese sancai wares of the same period, though the middle eastern wares use manganese rather than cobalt, and the configuration of the splashes bears little relation to the far eastern type. This has lead some to argue that the concurrence may simply be a coincidence: lead glaze technology being a relatively straight-forward development that requires no special or esoteric knowledge (such as is required for firing lustre for instance).

This lot is accompanied by a Thermoluminescence Analysis Report giving a date of last firing consistent with a 9th century date of manufacture.