A rare Kashan Lustre Pottery Bottle Vase, Persia, early 13th century

of globular form with narrow tapering neck rising to lobed open flower-form mouth, painted in cobalt blue and golden lustre over an opaque white glaze, the body divided into panels with plump birds amidst spirals and scrolls contained within bands of cursive script, stylised chain pattern below, the neck with peacock-eye motifs, the lobed mouth painted with palmette leaves and a further band of naskh below the rim

Perpetual Glory, Medieval Islamic Ceramics From The Harvey B. Plotnick Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2007.

O. Pancaroglu, Perpetual Glory, Medieval Islamic Ceramics From The Harvey B. Plotnick Collection, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2007, pp.117, no.75.

intact, area of misfiring on the glaze, lustre strong and golden brown, overall good condition, as viewed
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

inscriptions

Around the rim:
al-'izz wa al-iqbal
'Glory and Prosperity'

Around the shoulder, an Arabic quatrain:
al-durr tajalla min makan al-wardi
wa al-rawd tajalla bi-makan al-wardi
wa al-bulbul qala 'an lisan al-wardi
al-khamr tajalla fi awan al-wardi

'A pearl shines where there is a red rose,
And a garden shines where there is a red rose,
And the nightingale sings in the tongue of the red rose,
Wine shines in red vessels'

For a similar quatrain, see, Ernst J. Grube, Cobalt and Lustre, The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, vol. IX, 1994, no. 278.

In the vertical band on the body: A different Arabic quatrain:
satubdi laka al-ayyam ma kunta jahilan
wa ya'tika bi'l-akhbar ma lam tuzawwidi
'an al-mar' la tas'al wa absar qarina
fa-inna al-qarin bi'l-maqarin yuqtadi

'The day will reveal to you that of which you are ignorant,
The one whom you did not provide provisions will bring you news.
Do not ask about a man, but look for his company,
Because the person he is connected with will lead you to his affiliation'

For the first half of the quatrain, see, Ernst J. Grube, Cobalt and Lustre, The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, vol. IX, 1994, no. 274. The verses are attributed to 'Adi ibn Zayd, Tarafa ibn al-'Abd, and Abu Qays. Parts are quoted in Rawandi, Muhammad ibn 'Ali ibn Sulayman, Rahat al-sudur wa ayat al-surur, edited by Muhammad Iqbal, London, 1921, p.32; 'Awfi, Muhammad, Lubab al-albab, edited by E.G.Browne and M.Qazwini, Leiden, 1906, p.13; and Nasrallah Munshi, Abu al-Ma'ali, Kalila was Dimna, edited by M.Minovi, Tehran, 1361/1982, p.317.

In the band around the body:  A Persian quatrain:
ey ra'y to sal o mah azordan-e man
faregh ze man o shad be-gham khordan-e man
gofti nakonam ba to degar bad 'ahdi
in niz nakardan-e to bar kardan-e man.

'O you! Whose will it is to hurt me for years and months,
Who are free from me and glad at my anguish,
You vowed not to break your promise again,
It is I, who have caused this breach'

For a similar Persian quatrain, see, Ernst J. Grube, Cobalt and Lustre, The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, vol. IX, 1994, nos 156, 212, 219, 268, 274 and 277 and Oliver Watson, Ceramics from Islamic Lands, Kuwait National Museum, The al-Sabah Collection, 2004, pp. 356-9, cats. O.15- O.17.

Followed by a Persian benedictory couplet:
negah-dar bada jahan afarin
be-har ja ki bashad khodavand-e in

'May the Creator of the World protect
The owner of this [bottle] wherever he may be.'

For a similar Persian couplet, see, Ernst J. Grube, Cobalt and Lustre, The Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, vol. IX, 1994, nos. 214, 219, 268, 275, 276, 277, 281 and 283.

Followed by:
al-'izz wa al-iqbal wa al-sa'ada wa al-salama wa al-ni'ma wa ... al-nasr wa ...
'Glory and Prosperity and Happiness and Well-being and [God's] Grace and ... Victory and ...'