Lot 129
- 129
A Large Umayyad or Early Abbasid Bronze Ewer, Persia, 8th century
Estimate
45,000 - 55,000 GBP
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Description
- Brass
with rounded body on three short feet, fluted everted neck leading to a cylindrical and slightly flared mouth, handle linking the rim with the shoulder, decorated with six moulded ridges, rim in the form of two bird's heads, large pomegranate finial, two spouts to the front with mouths in the form of flowerheads, double ruled panel beneath enclosing kufic inscription, engraved decoration around the neck, mouth, panel and spouts consisting of small arches and drop-form motifs
Condition
In good overall condition, has undergone a light clean, some green patination, one hole in the body, 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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
inscriptions
Inscribed on front in Kufic: umar bin adam (?)
Ewers with two spouts appear to have been a fashion that did not last long succeeding the Sassanian period. Their designs tend to be simple with minimal decoration. One, similar but smaller to this can be found at the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg (see A.U. Pope, A Survey of Persian Art, Oxford, 1938, pl.244). A similar fashion can also be found with glassware of the period. A single-spouted ewer, otherwise almost identical to the piece at hand, is in the L.A. Mayer Memorial Museum, Jerusalem (see E. Baer, Metalwork in Medieval Islamic Art, New York, 1985, p.88, no.67). A ewer with moulded palmettes around the shoulder and drum foot was sold at Christie's London 16 October 2001, lot 218, whilst a further almost identical ewer with a single spout was sold at Christie's 11 October 2005, lot 17.
The present piece is the largest of its kind to be published; it has the most remarkable sculptural superiority that makes it the elite of its family. The fine engravings are also noteworthy in that the underlying composition can still be seen underneath the layer of oxidation. A pear-shaped ewer of related form and from the same period was sold in these rooms 14 April 2010, lot 100.
Inscribed on front in Kufic: umar bin adam (?)
Ewers with two spouts appear to have been a fashion that did not last long succeeding the Sassanian period. Their designs tend to be simple with minimal decoration. One, similar but smaller to this can be found at the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg (see A.U. Pope, A Survey of Persian Art, Oxford, 1938, pl.244). A similar fashion can also be found with glassware of the period. A single-spouted ewer, otherwise almost identical to the piece at hand, is in the L.A. Mayer Memorial Museum, Jerusalem (see E. Baer, Metalwork in Medieval Islamic Art, New York, 1985, p.88, no.67). A ewer with moulded palmettes around the shoulder and drum foot was sold at Christie's London 16 October 2001, lot 218, whilst a further almost identical ewer with a single spout was sold at Christie's 11 October 2005, lot 17.
The present piece is the largest of its kind to be published; it has the most remarkable sculptural superiority that makes it the elite of its family. The fine engravings are also noteworthy in that the underlying composition can still be seen underneath the layer of oxidation. A pear-shaped ewer of related form and from the same period was sold in these rooms 14 April 2010, lot 100.