A Kashan bird-headed pottery ewer, Persia, early 13th century

of elongated baluster form, the body narrowing to a neck with flaring mouth in the form of a rooster's head with black details for eyes and crown, with curved, feather-like handle, the body decorated with bulbous drop form designs, each containing black tendrils

Strong decoration and glaze, areas with beautiful iridescence, some overpainting to certain sections, the body broken and restored with associated overpainting, craquelure to glaze, 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."

This bird-headed ewer is of a rare form which perhaps finds its genesis in Persian metalwork of the period. A comparable example is in the David Collection, Copenhagen, inv. no.ISL 23. The water-weed design which embellishes this example first appears in Persian underglaze-painted wares in the early thirteenth century. These wares, decorated using a brush, superseded the earlier and more-labour intensive slip-carved 'Silhouette wares'. The brush had several advantages over the knife: not only did it speed up the design process, but it also allowed for more fluid and painterly decoration, such as on this example.