This miniature faience vessel was designed as a receptacle, with the added detail of a face protruding from one side to provide a slightly elongating effect. Its function is  More »

This miniature faience vessel was designed as a receptacle, with the added detail of a face protruding from one side to provide a slightly elongating effect. Its function is uncertain, but the delicacy of its manufacture precludes the likelihood that it served some utilitarian function, and was instead probably intended for the sale, display or storage of a comparatively valuable material (such as incense or makeup). The whole vessel stands on a tripod arrangement of points that are in fact the two ends of the individual's hair (which is arranged in plate-like bands down the side of the face), and an elongated 'ponytail' at the back. The surface has been painted cream with highlights of blue, and the facial details have been picked out in black. The entire piece has a notable patina of usage.Faience is a fine tin-glazed ceramic substance, which was first used in the Middle East in the second half of the first millennium BC. The pottery itself was usually light-coloured fineware, which was then covered by a silica-rich glass-like substance. This material was extremely expensive, and was essentially the genesis of glassmaking; the items that were used were accordingly intended for the elites of the time, notably including amulets, jewellery and small objects such as this. This is an impressive and luxurious piece of ancient artwork. - (OF.076)Mesopotamian Faience Anthropomorphic Vessel - OF.076Origin: Central Asia Circa: 2000 BC to 1000 BCDimensions: 2.45" (6.2cm) high x 2.9" (7.4cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style:Mesopotamian Medium:Faience   « Less

Sumerian Stone Mace Headwith Stylised Ram Heads OF.227Origin:Near East Circa:3000BCto2000BCDimensions:2.0" (5.1cm) high x 2.0" (5.1cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style:  More »

Sumerian Stone Mace Headwith Stylised Ram Heads OF.227Origin:Near East Circa:3000BCto2000BCDimensions:2.0" (5.1cm) high x 2.0" (5.1cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style: Sumerian Medium: Stone   « Less

Terracotta Incantation Bowl - LO.761Origin: Mesopotamia Circa: 500 AD to 800 ADDimensions: 2.75 " (7.0cm) high x 6.9" (17.5cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Terracotta

Terracotta Incantation Bowl - LO.761Origin: Mesopotamia Circa: 500 AD to 800 ADDimensions: 2.75 " (7.0cm) high x 6.9" (17.5cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Medium: Terracotta   « Less

Samanid Slip Painted Bowl - AMD.49, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 2.5" (6.4cm) high x 7.1" (18.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Samanid Slip Painted Bowl - AMD.49, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 2.5" (6.4cm) high x 7.1" (18.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Samanid Ware, Medium: Glazed Pottery. The first indigenous Muslim dynasty to rule Iran following the Arab conquest, the Samanid Dynasty was founded in 819 A.D. by Saman- Khuda, a Persian vassal of the Abbasid Empire. However, not until the reign of Saman-Khuda’s great-grandson, Ismail I (892-907 A.D.), did Samanid power become extensive, eventually spreading outside of Iran and into Central Asia. The coins of the Samanids were used throughout North Asia, revealing their enormous influence on the region. Today, the Samanid Dynasty is renown as a time of cultural flourishing, especially in regards to the arts of poetry and pottery. The capital of Bukhara was also one of the cultural centers of the empire, along with the cities of Samarkand and Nishapur. Perhaps their most important influence on Islamic art was the Samanid innovation of slip painting that allowed for more refined, controlled glazed decorations on terracotta vessels and tiles. The Samanid Dynasty was a period of nationalism, where the Persian people regained power from the hands of foreign invaders. While Samanid power gradually waned throughout the 10th century in response to the rise of Turkic power in Central Asia and Afghanistan, during their rule the foundations of a native Iranian Islamic culture were firmly established.   « Less

Slip Painted 'Sari' Bowl - AMD.50, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1000 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 2.7" (6.9cm) high x 7.5" (19.1cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Sari  More »

Slip Painted 'Sari' Bowl - AMD.50, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1000 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 2.7" (6.9cm) high x 7.5" (19.1cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Sari Ware, Medium: Buff Earthenware, Condition: Extra Fine. Of the later provincial pottery, Sari wares are probably the best known for their highly decorative quality and their likeable decoration. The name comes from a town in Northern Iran, at the southern tip of the Caspian Sea, to which original finds were attributed. However those finds were not properly documented and therefore there is some contention around the true provenance of the manufacture. It is however quite widely agreed that this form of pottery was made in the Mazandaran region of Iran.   « Less

Slip Painted 'Sari' Bowl - AMD.51, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1000 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 3" (7.6cm) high x 7.6" (19.3cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Sari  More »

Slip Painted 'Sari' Bowl - AMD.51, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1000 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 3" (7.6cm) high x 7.6" (19.3cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Sari Ware, Medium: Buff Earthenware, Condition: Very Fine. Of the later provincial pottery, Sari wares are probably the best known for their highly decorative quality and their likeable decoration. The name comes from a town in Northern Iran, at the southern tip of the Caspian Sea, to which original finds were attributed. However those finds were not properly documented and therefore there is some contention around the true provenance of the manufacture. It is however quite widely agreed that this form of pottery was made in the Mazandaran region of Iran.   « Less

Nishapur Calligraphic Bowl - AMD.54, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 3.9" (9.9cm) high x 8.9" (22.6cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Nishapur Calligraphic Bowl - AMD.54, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 3.9" (9.9cm) high x 8.9" (22.6cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Nishapur Ware, Medium: Buff Earthenware. Calligraphic designs range from the highest quality of script as an art form, to simple abstracted pattern-making.   « Less

'Seljuk-White' Dish - AMD.61, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 1.5" (3.8cm) high x 5.9" (15.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk,  More »

'Seljuk-White' Dish - AMD.61, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 1.5" (3.8cm) high x 5.9" (15.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Fritware/Composite, Condition: Very Fine.   « Less

Polychrome Slip Painted Bowl - AMD.78, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 3.1" (7.9cm) high x 8.1" (20.6cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Polychrome Slip Painted Bowl - AMD.78, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 3.1" (7.9cm) high x 8.1" (20.6cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Nishapur Ware, Medium: Buff Earthenware.   « Less

Green Glazed Incise Decorated Bowl - AMD.81, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3.5" (8.9cm) high x 7.2" (18.3cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art,  More »

Green Glazed Incise Decorated Bowl - AMD.81, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3.5" (8.9cm) high x 7.2" (18.3cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Sgraffiato Ware, Medium: Glazed, Earthenware.   « Less