Description:

AN UMAYYAD GREEN GLAZED INSCRIBED POTTERY JUG, EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN, POSSIBLY EGYPT, 8TH CENTURY
Eastern Mediterranean, possibly Egypt, 8th century

Description:
A rare Umayyad-era pottery jug, expertly thrown with a bulbous body, tall cylindrical neck, and single strap handle. Decorated in a distinctive green lead glaze over a buff ceramic body, the design features stylised vegetal motifs arranged in a rhythmic, hatched pattern with an incised kufic inscription encircling the shoulder. The glaze has pooled in areas, enhancing the dynamic surface texture. The form and decoration reflect early Islamic innovations influenced by Byzantine and Coptic ceramic traditions.

Dimensions:
Height: 23 cm

Provenance:
European Private Collection, 1960s
Thence by descent to current family owner, acquired in the late 1990s

Comparable examples:

  • A green-glazed Umayyad pottery jug, similar size and form, sold at Christie’s, London, Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds, 26 October 2023, Lot 73, for £50,400.

  • A related Umayyad jug with calligraphic decoration, possibly Syrian, 8th century, sold at Bonhams, London, Islamic and Indian Art, 14 October 2019, Lot 28, for £37,562.

  • A comparable green-glazed jug with stylised foliate design, from Fustat, Egypt, 8th century, sold at Sotheby’s, London, Arts of the Islamic World, 25 April 2018, Lot 101, for £32,500.

Note:
Green-glazed pottery from the Umayyad period is among the earliest examples of Islamic ceramic artistry. Such jugs were often utilitarian yet bore complex decorative schemes reflecting a fusion of classical and Islamic aesthetics. The incised inscription and stylised foliate decoration on this example place it within a rare corpus of high-quality early Islamic glazed wares, making it an important piece for collectors and institutions alike.

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May 6, 2025 1:00 PM BST
London, United Kingdom

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
£0 £99 £5
£100 £199 £10
£200 £499 £20
£500 £999 £50
£1,000 £1,999 £100
£2,000 £4,999 £200
£5,000 £9,999 £500
£10,000 £19,999 £1,000
£20,000 £49,999 £2,000
£50,000 £99,999 £5,000
£100,000 £199,999 £10,000
£200,000 £499,999 £20,000
£500,000 £999,999 £50,000
£1,000,000 + £100,000