Lot 58
Central Asia, Islamic culture, Persia, Nishapur, ca. 11th century CE. A tall and elegant ewer in leaded brass, its gently swelling body rising to a narrow, flaring neck with a thickened rim and softly splayed foot. The surface is adorned with fine incised decoration: bands of Arabic calligraphy encircle the shoulder, while panels of stylized birds, framed in plaited ovals, alternate across the body. A looping handle sweeps upward, terminating in a floral knob shaped like a pomegranate - a fruit of great cultural and spiritual significance across the Persianate world, symbolizing abundance, fertility, and paradise. The form and motifs recall the visual language of the Seljuk period, when Nishapur was a thriving cultural and commercial center in Khorasan. Artisans in this period produced finely worked bronze and brass vessels for both practical and ceremonial use, often inscribed with benedictory phrases or poetic invocations. Size: 6.3" L x 5.5" W x 11.9" H (16 cm x 14 cm x 30.2 cm)
The engraved birds - likely peacocks or mythical simurghs - were favored subjects in Islamic metalwork, blending natural beauty with apotropaic meaning. This ewer, with its lustrous patina and lyrical detailing, would have been a treasured object in a refined medieval household.
Provenance: ex-T.F. Holy Lands collection, formed since the 1960s
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#195919
- Condition: Some nicks and abrasions to surface as shown, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with good remaining detail and heavy encrustations to interior.
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|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
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| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |