A LARGE SARI WARE SLIP-PAINTED POTTERY ‘BIRD’ BOWL Northern Persia, 10^th-11^th century. With deep rounded sides supported on a short foot, painted in manganese brown, mustard, dark brown, and white spots on a cream ground, depicting a plump and ornamented bird with an elongated comb and tail feathers, surrounded by three floral medallions, the interstices with thin vegetal stems and small rosettes, a band of bold brown spots circling the rim.

Provenance: From the personal collection of Mohamed Makiya and thence by descent. Mohamed Makiya (1914-2015) was an architect noted for establishing Iraq's first department of architecture at the University of Baghdad. He is best known for his extension to the Khulafa Mosque in Baghdad. In the early 1970s, Makiya and his family relocated to London where he established the Kufa Gallery for Islamic and Arab art. In 2016, Iraq honored Mohamed Makiya with a 1.000 Dinar postage stamp.
Condition: The bowl was broken in several pieces and has been re-assembled after excavation, with associated old fills and touchups. Small losses, soil encrustations.

Weight: 529.6 g
Dimensions: Diameter 21.8 cm

The tradition of slip-painting established in the 10^th century at Nishapur and Samarqand continued up until the 12^th century at other more provincial centers. One distinct type, much coveted by collectors, is Sari ware, named after the Iranian town near the Caspian Sea where the wares were once thought to have been made. The present bowl is one of the finest examples of this type. The highly stylized, brightly colored bird and the band of thin lines around the bowl are characteristic of the group.

Literature comparison: Compare a closely related bowl, dated 11^th century, in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.73.5.144. Compare a closely related bowl, dated 10^th century, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 58.91.

Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related bowl, also dated 10^th-11^th century, at Sotheby’s London, 24 April 2013, lot 166, sold for GBP 18,750. Compare a closely related bowl, also dated 10^th-11^th century, at Sotheby’s London, 4 October 2011, lot 9, sold for GBP 18,750.