Lot 129
  • 129

A MONUMENTAL ILKHANID POTTERY MIHRAB TILE, PERSIA, LATE 13TH CENTURY |

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • 48 by 46 by 6.5cm. 
the stonepaste body with moulded arabesques and geometric frame, overglaze lustre, highlights of turquoise and cobalt blue, set into a square metal frame on reverse for suspension

Provenance

Mme Prigogine (most probably Maria Prokopowicz, married to Viscount Ilya Romanovich Prigogine in 1961 (1917-2003).
Joseph Soustiel, Art Musulman, Paris, 25 May 1966.
Ex-collection A. Kevorkian, New York (as published on Soustiel invoice).

Ilya Romanovich Prigogine was born in Moscow in 1917, a few months before the Russian revolution. A few years later, his family left and eventually settled in Belgium. Prigogine became professor in chemistry, and his research in the field led him to be awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1977. Ilya and his second wife, Maria Prokopowiscz, carefully assembled an important and diverse collection over thirty years, comprising pre-Colombian, African and Asian artworks. He acquired this tile from the well known Islamic art dealer and connoisseur, Joseph Soustiel. 

Condition

The tile appears to be intact although certain areas, notably to extremities and on protruding sections, have had breaks to the surface with associated infill and overpainted. Surface chips throughout and small cracks on protruding designs, sections of the repair also chipped, 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

The combination of lush entwined split-palmettes contained within straight moulded bands creates a strong visual synthesis. Whereas the palmettes grow out of the surface of the tile, they are regulated within a firm geometric design that would have formed part of an even larger architectural element. The plumpness of the arabesques can be compared to those illustrated on an early Ilkhanid Qur'an attributed to Abdallah al-Sayrafi, circa 1330 in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Istanbul (inv. no. TIEM 487). A pair of Mosul metal door knockers attributed to the thirteenth century now in the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha (inv. no. 128.1999), also display the same style of thick lushness in rendering of the leafy motifs; a style that would disappear in the fourteenth century. A comparable partial niche-form tile in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, inv. no.20.120.219, was associated with the "[...]lower portion of elaborate composite mihrab tile panels installed in religious structures during the Ilkhanid period" (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/ search/447281). The design of the palmettes with cobalt and light blue highlights on a lustre ground of tight scrolls can be further compared with another lustre tile from a mihrab panel in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, inv. no.91.1.1525 (see Carboni and Masuya 1993, pp.20-1, nos.15 & 16). 

This lot is accompanied by the original invoice, signed by Joseph Soustiel, Paris, 25 May 1966.