London, UK. Bond Street, Arts of the
Islamic World, 03 May 01, lot 91
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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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