A Rare Mamluk Blue and White Dish with Six-pointed Star, Egypt or Syria, 14th century

of shallow rounded form with everted rim on a short foot, the interior painted in cobalt blue and outlined in black, decorated with a central six-point star, surrounded by alternating lotus flowers and stylised palmettes, the border along the rim comprising a lattice design, the reverse with large swirling pattern.

overall in relatively good condition considering age. some rubbing to the glaze, and minor abrasions to the extremeties, 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."

The decoration of this bowl relies for the most part on the blue and white aesthetic, a fashion that was in great demand in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries in both the Mamluk and Iranian world. Cobalt-blue decoration, known in Iraq since the ninth century, enjoyed a new popularity in this period thanks to imported Chinese porcelain. Mamluk potters were influenced by Chinese blue and white ware and produced a great quantity of underglaze-painted ceramics with cobalt-blue decoration, which was often supplemented with black or even turquoise or green. The thickness of body and glaze in this fine example testifies to Syrian or Egyptian manufacture. A dish with similar decoration, formerly in the Madina Collection, New York, is illustrated in Atil 1981, pp.156-7, no.69; and another is in the David Collection (von Folsach 2001, p.164, no.202; and Blair and Bloom 2006, p.132, no.62). For a full discussion of the group, see Gibbs 1998-99.