A Ghurid moulded glass roundel, Central Asia, late 12th Century
Lot 90. A Ghurid moulded glass roundel, Central Asia, late 12th Century. Estimate: £8,000 - 12,000 (€9,400 - 14,000). Photo: Bonhams.
of round form, impressed in relief to one side with a central roundel containing a musician sitting cross-legged playing a lute, the border with a band of inscription - 10 cm. diam. max.
Note: Inscriptions: 'imad al-[daw]lah wa al-din malik al-umara' jahan pahlavan 'umar bin al-husayn nusrah, possibly to be translated as, 'Pillar of Government and Religion, king of Commanders of Jahan Pahlavan, 'Umar bin al-Husayn Nurah'.
Impressed glass medallions with figural scenes have been known since excavations in Uzbekistan in the late 1930s unearthed a group of coloured glass roundels depicting animals and figures hunting and playing musical instruments. The use of these medallions is generally thought to have been as decorative elements set into stained glass windows.
Bonhams. ISLAMIC AND INDIAN ART, 25 Apr 2017, 11:00 BST, LONDON, NEW BOND STREET