body moulded in the form of a long-bearded seated figure hunched forward with hands resting upon his knees, wearing a turban with a circular opening at the crown, decorated with black scrolls and cobalt under a turquoise glaze

In good overall condition, some breaks with associated restoration, some cracquelure,
"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."

Figurines represent a significant part of production at Kashan in the late Seljuk period. The subject matter of these figurines is very wide ranging including birds, monkeys, harpies, sphinx. Human figures were also made, amongst them, musici𒊎ans playing instruments, horsemen dressed in Turkish military costume and mother with child. A lustre figure of a seated turbanned man formerly of the Ades Family Collection is illustrated in Watson 1985, p.120, no. 100. Two vessels in the form of a seated figure are in the al-Sabah collection (Watson 2004, pp.344-345, Cat. nos. N.14, N.15A figurine of a mother and child was sold through these rooms 9 April♕, lot 147.

This figurine relates closely to a Kashan chess piece in the Khalili Collection that is identified on the brim of his hat as Sultan Tughril and dated 538 A.H./ 1143 A.D. The twelfth century Ravandi's account of the reign of the Great Seljuk Sultan Tughril II (r.1132-34) cites a prescription for victory on the battlefield: 'Like a chess-player one has to observe the enemy's moves as well as one's own', and the date falls within the reign of Tughri𒅌l's brother, Mas'ud, who ousted him after a bloody struggle. Ravandi's aphoristic style was much appreciated by later historians, which may explain why in the late13th century Tughril's name became attached to the king o💝f a chess set.' (Rogers 2007, p.156, no. 177).

This lot is accompanied by a thermolu﷽minescence analysis report confirming a circa 12th century date of manufacture.