Lot 98. A rare incised and slip-painted pottery bowl, Eastern Mediterranean, early 13th century; 12cm. diam., 5.5cm. height. Estimate 7,000 — 8,000 GBP. Lot Sold 8,125 GBP. Photo: Sotheby’s 2014

of deep rounded form, with incised decoration featuring a bird in the centre under a light green monochrome glaze, the exterior with a slip-painted design.

Note: This type of ware, combining an incised and a slip-painted design, can be associated to both the Egyptian Mamluk wares of the period and the Byzantine styles of this production. Whereas the abstract slip-painted band running along the external rim of the present bowl is stylistically close to the fragment of a small bowl with slip-painted decoration in the Keir Collection (Grube 1976, p.288, no.241) attributed to Egypt, fourteenth century, the bird in the centre of the bowl is more reminiscent of Byzantine sgraffito or crusaderwares. An attribution for the present piece to the Eastern Mediteranean would take into account this interesting combination of motifs.

Sotheby’s. Arts of the Islamic World, Londres | 08 oct. 2014