An Umayyad carved marble capital, Spain, 2nd half 10th century

the lower section of cylindrical form, carved and chiselled throughout with foliate patterns in high relief, surmounted by a band of bead-and-reel ornament beneath an enjoined vegetal design, the top of eight-pointed star form, with an inscription in kufic script to the side facets 

In fair overall condition, knoscks rubbing and abrasions to extremities, one portion of the column mostly missing, the top without five of the star points, 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."

inscriptions

...li-'abd allah...atala allah/baqa'ahu

'...To the servant of God...May God prolong his life'

Three comparable capitals in the Museo Arqueologico Provincial de Cordoba, attributed to Cordoba or Madinat al-Zahra, illustrate the evolution of this type of capital in Umayyad Spain during the reigns of Abd al-Rahman III (A.D 912-961) and al-Hakam II (A.D 961-976) (see Dodds 1992, nos. 37 & 38). The form, which derives ultimately from the classical Corinthian prototype, assumed a more lacey, stylised appearance in the Visigothic and early Umayyad periods, influenced by current trends in the Byzantine world where the tendency to drill rather than carve resulted in a more "honeycombed" effect. This example is almost certainly from Madinat al-Zahra and the reign of al-Hakam II (961-976).

The closest comparison is to a capital in the Museo de la Alhambra (R.E 1672) (Granada 1995, no.56, p.257), which evinces a similar two-tiered acanthus design and the egg-and-dart minor band. These features are shared by other capitals from Madinat al-Zahra, including the dated example in the al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait (ibid., no.39, pg. 247), which bears the name and titles of al-Hakam and the year 362 (A.D 972-3), providing a fixed date for the whole group.

Further published examples of capitals from Madinat al-Zahra can be found in Paris 2000, nos.73, 75, 78 and 79. A slightly more compact version sold at Christie's, 11 October 2005, lot 21.