Islamic Kashan 13th Century Turquoise Glazed Pottery Bowl

Ancient rare Kashan lustre bowl 12th century Islamic pottery art. This beautifully decorated and well cared for lustre bowl is one of the few examples still in existence. It was made in Kashan in the 12th-early 13th century, Seljuk- Atabeg period. Kashan was an important center for the production of high quality pottery and tiles. Lustre ware was among the most innovative development of Kashan potters, who mixed silver sulfides and copper oxides to create a shiny copper toned metallic sheen on the surface of glazed earthenware bowls, plates and vessels. It was an expensive and unpredictable lustre technique. Kashan lustreware pottery can be found in the collections of the British Museum and the Hermitage Museum. Literature: O. Pancaroglu. Perpetual Glory. Medieval Islamic Ceramics...

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An earthenware bowl supported on a foot ring decorated with elaborate slip paint. The bowl was made in Kashan (in nowadays Iran) during 12-14th century, under Seljuk empire or after ...

A charming Korean celadon glazed stoneware bowl with white and black sangam inlay, Goryeo Dynasty, 12th - 13th century, Korea. The celadon glazed stoneware bowl of generous propor...

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A collection of two small pottery bowls with polychrome central figurative decorations, matching size and similar conical form. These bowls are identified as Nishapur ware circa 10th century (in nowadays Iran). They were stoneware (possibly buffware) and covered with opaque white glaze. Both were lovely decorated with a central human figure within an outer border. One is predominantly yellow, an imitation of luster ware...

Rock crystal vessels were highly demanded and valuable in Medieval times. Inventories from European royal houses and the highest aristocratic families detail the important and sophisticated collections of ewers and bowls. Rock crystal has also been used extensively in religious art. Fine European reliquaries were also made of Rock Crystal including gems, enamel and other precious materials. The work of rock crystal is very ancient. The materials has been worked and valued for its solidity and its purity: it has been believed to be water ice permanently frozen. Our superb example is a gold-mounted rock crystal bowl with enamel. The items origin is not clear and various features and characteristics may lead us to think of different origins and periods of creation. A single piece of stone mounted with gold could be a Milanese work. Although the cut could be French as similar pieces belonged to the French royalty (especially the art lover Duc de Berry, (1340-1416)). French and Italian crystal cutters have been active at the same time and it is often difficult to differentiate their works. Islamic art also influenced European artists. The famous Fatimid treasury provided examples of their sophistication and quality. The seven ewers carved for the Fatimid Imans (known as "The Magnificent Seven") display impressive quality of both rock crystal and enamelled mounts. Even though not identical to works by French silversmith Jean-Valentin Morel who was appointed goldsmith to Queen Victoria in 1852 or Reinhold Vasters (1927-1909) another renown German goldsmith who embellished older rock crystal items, there are similarities between these works. Both reduce their use of colour to black and white on pure gold mounts. Moreover the black enamel design is quite similar. Also, no gems are included and no human figure is represented. Sotherby's described our bowl as a "German Rock crystal bowl with later gold mounts, 15th century." Other items from the period from Germany or Austria are usually silver mounted and the decorations are more colourful and include gems or human figures but they have in common enamel motifs. In our case, the gold foot, handles and rim could date from the 1900s. An expert has established the foot, handles and rim are pure gold. The goldsmith responsible for the improvement of the bowl is possibly the most famous Reinhold Vasters whose work has been displayed in the greatest museums such as the V&A in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Rock Crystal bowl we have is gold mounted. The gold shows in enamelled details that are black and white. The gold handles are also enamelled with black acanthus-like leaves. The enamelling method could be "champleve" or "painting metal". The metal that is usually preferred is copper but these techniques are also applied to gold. The bowl itself could be from the 14th century. It's cut reminds of an estimated 14th century rock crystal ball bearing the Buoncompagni family arms...