Persian rugs: The Complete Guide to Persian Rugs

10th Century Samarkand Simurgh Bowl

Sale Title ISLAMIC ART AND MANUSCRIPTS

Location London, King Street Sale Date Apr 29, 2003
Lot Number 74 Sale Number 6713
Creator Central Asia, 10th century

Lot Title A LARGE SAMARKAND CONICAL POTTERY BOWL

Estimate 6,000 - 10,000 British pounds
Special Notice VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium
Lot Description A LARGE SAMARKAND CONICAL POTTERY BOWL
Central Asia, 10th century
On short foot, the pink-tan ground with a central interlace roundel of strapwork outlined in white, the sides with three large white simurghs, the interstices with black panels of red and white dotted motifs, a band of stylised kufic above and below, the exterior with simple triangles formed of diagonal ochre and red lines, repaired breaks, centre poorly restored and possibly composite
13½in. (34.3cm.) diam.

Lot Notes This large bowl has a very unusual combination of elements and particularly colouration. Two bowls are noted in the excavations at Nishapur which had an "unusual grayish purplish engobe" (Wilkinson, Charles K.: Nishapur Pottery of the Early Islamic Period, New York, 1973, no.33, p.166 and no.48, p.169). When discussing the latter, more fully decorated piece, Wilkinson notes that the decoration is more typical of Sistan and Lashkari Bazar in western and southern Afghanistan than Nishapur.

Four related bowls have appeared at auction, one in these Rooms 15 October 2002, lot 202, two at Sotheby's (12 October 2000, lots 122 and 124) and one at Bonhams (24 April 2002, lot 250). For a fuller discussion of the origins of the group please see the note to the first of these.