A Mughal green-glazed pottery jali, North India or Central Asia, 17th century

with a red body, the arch form pierced with a central panel composed of square and rectangular openings to form a regular symmetrical pattern, the border incised with three raised ridges, the reverse also glazed in green

good condition, minor glaze losses to extremities, 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 tile panel in the form of a mihrab is decorated with an openwork design, probably functioning as a window panel, but provides a rare example of the Indian potters' work.

The design would appear to have its origins in earlier architectural panels of tiles applied to form angular kufic inscriptions. Notable examples of this are found on monuments such as the Masjid-i Jami' of Timur at Samarkand, of 1398-1405, and the Shrine of Abdullah Ansari in Gazargah, circa 1425-29, which display the precursors to this design (Lentz and Lowry 1989, p.35, fig.5, and p.87, fig.27, respectively). Here the spaces form the background of a pattern that has become, through abstraction, more reminiscent of, rather than literally, calligraphic.