Description:

 A RARE MINA'I POTTERY BOWL, CENTRAL IRAN, CIRCA 1200
Central Iran, circa 1200

Description:
This superb mina’i ware bowl features a finely painted scene of courtly figures surrounding a radiating central medallion, executed in cobalt, turquoise, manganese, and crimson over a cream slip. The banded rim includes stylised calligraphic motifs, while the exterior bears a black cursive inscription against the glazed surface. Restored from multiple fragments, the piece retains strong visual coherence and offers a striking glimpse into the refined aesthetic of late Seljuk Persia.

Dimensions:
Diameter: 20 cm

Provenance:
With K. Fujishiro, Japan, by 1967
Acquired by Japanese trade until 2015, when purchased by the present owner

Comparable examples:

  • A mina’i bowl with a similar figural composition and radiating medallion, Iran, circa 1200, sold at Christie’s, London, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 26 October 2023, Lot 44, for £119,700.

  • A related mina’i ware bowl with polychrome enamel decoration and princely court figures, sold at Sotheby’s, London, Arts of the Islamic World, 25 April 2018, Lot 103, for £93,750.

  • A closely comparable piece with courtly musicians and calligraphy, Central Iran, circa 1200, sold at Bonhams, London, Islamic and Indian Art, 11 June 2018, Lot 34, for £81,250.

Note:
Mina’i ware represents a brief but highly celebrated innovation in medieval Persian ceramics. These rare polychrome overglaze-painted bowls are notable for their pictorial sophistication, combining storytelling, poetic inscriptions, and luxurious aesthetics. The radiating star motif at the centre of this piece alludes to cosmic symbolism and courtly grandeur, making it not only an object of daily use but also one of visual poetry.

 

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
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