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Sotheby's catalogue
description:
Arts of the Islamic World lot 97
Sale L02220 lot 97
A Safavid blue and white pottery bottle vase
Persia, 17th century
London, Bond Street 6,000—8,000 GBP Session 1
25 Apr 02 10:30 AM
MEASUREMENTS
52.8cm.
DESCRIPTION
the bulbous body on a broad slightly splayed foot, tapering to a tall
narrow neck, decorated in underglaze blue with chinoiserie floral
motifs and a scene of two jackals facing one another within reed-like
branches This lot contains 1 item(s).
The large and impressive vase is reminiscent of a form of pottery
depicted in miniature painting of the period. The decoration follows a
largely Chinese inspiration but the artist has added a patently Islamic
element in what seems to be a scene from the Bidpai fable Kalila wa
Dimna. One of the two jackals has his mouth open and appears to be
talking to the other animal. The depiction is close to that adopted in
illustrated manuscripts of this text for the scene of Dimna and Kalila
discussing the oxen, Shanzabah (Grube 1992, p.331, figs.13A and 13B,
and Atil 1981, p.83, fig.31). The reed-like branches also seem to
derive their form from an illustration. They are very similar to the
foliage depicted in Arabic illustrated manuscripts, including copies of
Kalila wa Dimna. Hence it would suggest that the decorator of this vase
found his inspiration in an Arabic, rather than a Persian,
illustration.
Picture and Information from www.Sothebys.com
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