An Important Hispano-moresque plate, Manises, Valencia, 1430-70

of shallow form with an outward sloping rim, decorated in cobalt blue and ochre lustre with a central stylised flowerhead radiating blue stems with alternating bryony flowers and leaves against a background of ochre scrolls, the reverse with large concentric foliate scrolls

ex-Collection Otto Beit (1865-1930)
Published in: 'The Catalogue of the Collection of Pottery and Porcelain in the Possession of Mr. Otto Beit', Chiswick Press, London, 1916, no. 615, plate V, where described as a "conspicuously beautiful dish" and "very rare" because of the absence of arms.

In overall good condition, some surface abrasion along internal raised edge to centre of surface, within internal cavetto and along external rim, including minor break to internal and external surface near rim, hairline crack through central cavetto, some abrasion consistent with age along base, 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 impressive size, intact condition and outstanding provenance mark this out as a superlative example of lustre production in Muslim Spain.

A very similar dish is illustrated and discussed in Ecker's Caliphs and Kings, the Art and Influence of Islamic Spain, where it is compared with an albarello and basin decorated with a similar 'bryony flower' pattern (Ecker 2004, no.70). All three pieces are in the collections of the Hispanic Society of America, New York (ibid., p.155, nos.68-70).

The bryony flower, a vine-like plant belonging to the cucumber family and native to Europe and Northern Iran, was apparently: "[...] used for medicinal purposes in ancient Egypt and Dioscorides categorized it as a powerful purgative" (Ecker 2004, p.155). This is most probably due to its poisonous nature. "In Greek it was called ophiostaphylon (serpent's grapes) or ampelos leuke (white vine), giving the Arabic 'inab al-hayya and karma bayda." (ibid, p.155).

This particular dish is unusual in that it does not bear a central heraldic shield or other armorial device suggesting that it was made either for a non-Christian, most probably Muslim, patron and/or that it was made for export. The demand for Spanish lustre was particularly strong in Mamluk Egypt where a substantial number of fragments have been found amongst the rubbish heaps of Fustat. It is interesting to note how Egyptian potters even went so far as to imitate the "bryony flower" pattern in their own underglaze-decorated wares: for example, the ex-Ibrahim Collection bowl in the Museum of Islamic Art, Cairo (inv. no.15986; illustrated in Atil 1981, p.158, no.70), which shares common vegetal patterns with the present dish.