A QAJAR ENAMELED AND INSCRIBED COPPER BOWL, IRAN, 1800-1850

拍品描述

A QAJAR ENAMELED AND INSCRIBED COPPER BOWL, IRAN, 1800-1850 Inscriptions: An inscription extending beneath the upper outer rim apocryphally dates the bowl to 532 AH (1137-38), during the reign of a Sultan Abu Saʿid, and is followed by verses excerpted from two ghazals by Hafiz. A further inscription, arranged around the foot, reproduces a Persian couplet. Finely crafted, with deep, rounded sides supported on a short, straight foot, the surface is richly decorated in vivid polychrome enamels. The interior is centered by a circular medallion depicting a woman in loosely draped robes riding a large-horned bovine amid vegetation, framed by a poetic calligraphic inscription. The cavetto is richly decorated with a series of oval medallions containing eclectic literary scenes populated by groups of young courtesans and elderly sovereigns distinguished by their characteristic white beards. These are complemented by further panels on the exterior of the bowl depicting epic heroes, literary figures, and fantastic animals. Throughout, the panels are bordered by distinctive deep-blue frames and enriched with brilliant gilt details in the form of stars and beaded bands, contrasting with the softer palette of the figural scenes. Dimensions: Height 8.3 cm, Diameter 18.6 cm The inscriptions accompanying several of the panels decorating the present bowl identify a diverse cast of figures drawn from Persian literary and mystical traditions. Aziz of Egypt and Yusuf refers to the celebrated Qur’anic and Persian literary cycle of Joseph (Yusuf) and his Egyptian master; Rustam and Isfandiyar are the two legendary Iranian heroes whose fatal encounter forms one of the most celebrated episodes of Firdawsi’s Shahnama; Shah Salim is a sovereign of the Persian literary tradition; and Shams al-Din Tabrizi was the celebrated thirteenth-century mystic and spiritual companion of Jalal al-Din Rumi. Shaykh San’an is the Sufi master whose transformative love for a Christian maiden is famously recounted in Attar’s Mantiq al-tayr (Conference of the Birds), while Baba Bayat designates a dervish or Sufi figure associated with the Bayat tradition. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related Qajar enameled copper pipe head, by Muhammad Ibrahim, Iran, dated 1800-1850, 6.6 cm high, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number 2416-1876. Auction result comparison: Type: Related Auction: Sotheby’s London, 22 April 2015, lot 205 Price: GBP 15,000 or approx. EUR 22,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Expert remark: Compare the colors, the composition, and the style of the decoration.

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