A Kashan Bowl painted with stylised vegetal decoration and inscriptions, Persia, early 13th century

of truncated conical form on a vertical foot, painted in shades of cobalt blue and black under a transparent colourless glaze, four black ribbon bands radiating outwards from the centre, each with a line of cursive script, the interstices with groups of three blue and black flowers linked to each other by thin stems, the rim with a blue pseudo-Kufic band on a white ground with vinal motifs, reverse decorated with a band of waterweed scrolls

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.96-97, no.55.

Overall good condition, restored from fragments, 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.
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inscriptions

An Arabic quatrain attributed to different jahiliya poets, 'Adi ibn Zayd, Tarafa ibn al-'Abd and Abu Qays:

satubdi laka al-ayyam ma kunta jahilan
wa ya'tika bi'l-akhbar ma lam tuzawwidi
'an al-mar' la tas'al wa absar qarina
fa-inna al-qarin bi'l-maqarin yuqtadi

'The day will reveal to you that of which you are ignorant,
The one whom you did not provide provisions will bring you news.
Do not ask about a man, but look for his company,
Because the person he is connected with will lead you to his affiliation.'

For the first part of the quatrain see, Ernst J. Grube, Cobalt and Lustre, The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, vol.IX, 1994, no.274.