A dated Kashan Lustre Dish Depicting an onager, Persia, AH 609/ 1212-1213 AD

of shallow form with everted rim supported on a slightly raised foot, decorated in golden lustre with a single splash of turquoise, a central medallion enclosing an onager set against a lustre ground scratched through scrolls and leaves, the rim reserve-decorated with a band of naskh script, the back decorated with medallions with abstract motifs

Perpetual Glory, Medieval Islamic Ceramics From The Harvey B. Plotnick Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2007.

O. Pancaroglu, Perpetual Glory, Medieval Islamic Ceramics From The Harvey B. Plotnick Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2007, pp.122-123, no.79.

Overall excellent condition, intact, some craquelure, 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

A benedictory quatrain and a couplet and another quatrain in Persian:

hamvare to-ra dawlat o 'izz afzun bad
eqbal-e to bogzashteh [ze hadd] birun bad
[ta] harche azin qadah [be-kam-e to] rasad
ey sadr-e jahan [to-ra] be-jan afzun bad

'May your wealth and glory always increase,
May your prosperity surpass all limits,
So whatever reaches your palate from this bowl,
Oh, Master of the World, may add to your life.'
'May the Creator of the World protect
Oh, Master of the World, may add to your life.'

For similar verses see, Ernst J. Grube, Cobalt and Lustre, The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, vol. IX, 1994, nos 261, 272, 277 and 283 and and Oliver Watson, Ceramics from Islamic Lands, Kuwait National Museum, The al-Sabah Collection, 2004, p. 358, cat. O.16.

Followed by a Persian benedictory couplet:
negah-dar bada jahan afarin
be-har ja ki bashad khodavand-e in

'May the Creator of the World protect
The owner of this [bottle] wherever he may be'

For a similar Persian couplet, see, Ernst J. Grube, Cobalt and Lustre, The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, vol. IX, 1994, nos. 214, 219, 268, 275, 276, 277, 281 and 283.

Followed by the date:

fi sana tis' [wa] sittami'a
'In the year six hundred and nine (1212-13)'