A FINE MINA'I POTTERY BOWL, PERSIA, 13TH CENTURY

bowl of rounded form on short foot, painted in underglaze cobalt blue and turquoise with overglaze enamel red, brown, black, purple and flesh tones with gilt, the interior with two figures, a seated male figure of a ruler holding a cup in his right hand, accompanied by a youth or courtesan holding a bottle, the turquoise ground and robe of the ruler with raised gold scrolls enclosing birds in textured relief, a band of blue and gold geometric interlace below the rim, the exterior with pairs of winged palmettes separated by lozenge-shaped pendants and a frieze of blue kufic interspersed with turquoise leaves below the outer rim; labels and collection marks on base: in yellow enamel 'L.1200-1339', and black enamel 'M.45.3.117'; paper labels: 'Balch No.3', 'International Exhibition of Persian Art London 1931, VS 318' and 'W.1023 MV.VVV'

Ex-Allan Balch Collection

International Exhibition of Persian Art, London, 1931, no.VS318 (label on base)

breaks and repairs with associated touching in, probably some refired repainting, area of restoration to rim, 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."

The term 'royal style' was first used by Pope whilst discussing the group of bowls in mina'i with two large confronted figures. It is believed they were produced as luxury wares: by the scale of the design and the richness of the decoration one can see why (Pope, Arthur Upham: A survey of Persian Art, Oxford, 1938). The design is worked in underglazed colours, overglaze enamels and in cold gilding. Some areas are highlighted with raised piped scrolling designs. Examples of similar illustrations can be found in the Keir collection (E. Grube, Islamic Pottery of the Eight to the Fifteenth Century, London, 1976), the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore (C.K. Wilkinson, Iranian Ceramics, exhibition catalogue, NY, 1963, no.61) and a fragmentary example in the Victoria and Albert Museum (A. Lane, Early Islamic Pottery, London, 1947, pl.68a).

The subject of the decoration follows a tradition paralleled in lustre-decorated pottery and inlaid metalwork of this period in the varied depictions of courtly life.