L12223

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Lot 158
  • 158

A dated Kashan Lustre Cup with running gazelles and inscriptions, Persia, 594 AH/1197-98 AD

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description

  • Fritware
of squat globular form with a short straight neck and applied ring handle with thumb-piece, on a short foot, painted with a golden lustre over an opaque white glaze, with a band of gazelles running, possibly away from a small dog to left of handle, with a Kufic inscription to neck above, a cursive inscription around the body, and a further cursive inscription near foot

Exhibited

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

Literature

O. Pancaroglu, Perpetual Glory. Medieval Islamic Ceramics from The Harvey B. Plotnick Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2007, p.121, no.78.
Venetia Porter and Mariam Rosser-Owen (ed.), Metalwork and Material culture in the Islamic World; Art, Craft, and Text. Essays presented to James W. Allan, London-New York, 2012, p. 402, fig. 24.2.

Condition

In good condition, intact, bright lustre, very minor chip to rim, some encrustation to interior and on base of foot, some chips to foot, 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."

Catalogue Note

inscriptions

Around the neck, in Kufic:

al-‘izz al-da[’im] wa al-nasr wa al-dawla wa al-sa’ada wa al-salama wa al-kirama (?) wa
‘Perpetual glory and victory and wealth and happiness and well-being and generosity
(?) and’

Around the body, in Arabic verse form:

 al-nas min wajh al-timthal akfa’
abuhum adam wa al-umm hawa’
fa-in yakun lahum min aqbalhum sharaf
yufakhirun bihi fa-al-tin wa al-ma’
ma al-fakhr illa li-ahl al-‘ilm annahum
‘ala al-huda li-man istahdi adilla’
wa qima al-mar’ ma qad kana yuhassinuhu
wa al-jahilun li-ahl al-‘ilm a’da’
 fi shuhur sana 594

A suggested translation:
‘Men are equal in their image to
Their father Adam and [their] mother Eve,
So if there is no dignity for them from those before them
They will be proud with it like clay and water.
There is no pride but in those with knowledge, because they
Are the guides, for the one who looks for guidance
And the value of the man is in his good deed
And the ignorant ones are enemies of those men of knowledge.
During the course of the year 594 (1197-8)’

Around the body in Kufic:

al-‘izz al-da’im wa al-iqbal [wa] al-‘izz al-da[‘im] wa al-nasr al-ghalib wa al-dawla wa al-sa’ada wa al-salama wa al-baqa

‘Perpetual glory and prosperity [and] perpetual glory and triumphant victory and wealth and happiness and well-being and long-life’