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London, UK. Bond Street, Arts of the Islamic World, 03
May 01, lot 91
| Sotheby's catalogue
description
Live
Auctions » Arts of the Islamic World including 20th Century Middle
Eastern Paintings » lot 91
A lustre-decorated pottery star tile
Sale L01281, Lot 91
London, Bond Street 14,000—18,000 GBP Session 1, 18 Oct 01 10:30 AM
Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 16,600 GBP
DESCRIPTION
A lustre-decorated pottery star tile, Kashan, Central Persia, circa
1266-1267 A.D. of eight pointed stellar form, the decoration heightened
in cobalt-blue and turquoise, the design of a central spray of
split-palmettes flanked on each side by an hare, the dense ground of
floral and foliate motifs, a border of cursive calligraphy. 21 cm.
Inscriptions
Qur'an, II, v.255 and beginning of 256
This
finely decorated tile is closely related to a group thought to have
decorated the Imamzada Ja'far at Damghan. Examples of these
showing similar animal decorations with a surrounding calligraphic band
in naskhi script are in the British Museum, London (Porter 1995, p. 36,
no.21). Certainly from the Imamzada and also comparable, are several
tiles in the Musee du
Louvre, Paris, some bearing dates from 1266 and 1267
(Bernus-Taylor 1993, p.87-88). Although Watson had earlier described
these tiles as having secular verses only, Bernus-Taylor noted, in her
more recent publication following restoration work at the Imamzada,
that both Qur'anic and secular inscriptions are found on the group
(Watson 1985, p.155, Bernus-Taylor 1993, p.).
Picture and Information from www.Sothebys.com
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A note on the inscription:
Here we see a familiar verse. From the Koran Verse 255
of Sura 2 is known as the Ayah Al-Kursee or "The Throne Verse".
"Allah!
There is no god but He, the Living, the self subsisting, Eternal. No
slumber can seize him, nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and
on the earth. Who can intercede in His presence except as He permiteth.
He knoweth What (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or
behind them. Nor shall they compass ought of His knowledge except as He
willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He
feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them, for He is the Most
High, The Supreme (in glory)". The
Holy Quran'n And The Ethical World Order
This verse is a popular declaration of faith and appears
in other works of Islamic Art including the 16th century Indjoudjian
Inscribed Spiral Arabesque Niche Rug (attributed by Michael Franses to
Central Persia, circa 1575 http://www.textile-art.com/tg/17724.html)
For Further Reading:
Thanks and best wishes,
J. Barry O'Connell Jr.
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