Arts of the Islamic World & India
Arts of the Islamic World & India
A Safavid blue and white pottery vase, 17th century, with Ottoman tombak mounts, 18th century
Auction Closed
October 25, 04:59 PM GMT
Estimate
7,000 - 10,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
of baluster form with a central everted mouth topped with a tombak-mounted rim and domed lid, the shoulder mounted with two tombak spouts and two handle fixtures, all engraved with floral motifs, the tombak splayed foot bearing an inscription, the body decorated in deep blue, featuring an abstract chinoiserie landscape with flowers and trees, scrolling arabesque designs to neck and foot, crosshatched pattern around the shoulder with arches amount the mounts, the reverse of base with pseudo-Chinese reign mark
21cm.
Please note that there may be restrictions on the import of property of Iranian origin into the USA and some or all member countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council. Any buyers planning to import property of Iranian origin into any of these countries should satisfy themselves of the relevant import regime. Sotheby's will not assist buyers with the shipment of such items into the USA or the GCC. In addition, FedEx and US courier services will no longer carry Iranian-origin goods to any location. Any shipment services would need to be provided by a Fine Art shipping company.
This former tulip vase displays a characteristic Safavid re-appropriation of Chinese designs, as can be witnessed on other similar objects (see for example a tulip vase sold in these rooms, 25 April 2012, lot 562). The peculiar shape of the tulip vase was ingeniously leveraged to remodel the object into an unusual double-spouted ewer, with its foot bearing three verses from a ghazal of Amir Shahi Sabzevari (d.1453).