Lot 65. A large Ilkhanid Lajvardina moulded calligraphic pottery tile, Persia, early 14th Century; 39.5 x 25.5 cm. Estimate: £ 10,000 - 15,000 (€ 11,000 - 16,000). Courtesy Bonhams.

of rectangular form with central ridge and raised border to right, moulded and decorated in red, white and gold leaf on a cobalt blue ground with inscriptions in thuluth on a ground of scrolling vegetal interlace, the raised bands with cable design. 

Provenance: Formerly in a Dutch private collection, Amsterdam, acquired in the 1960s.

Note: Inscriptions: to the border the basmalah; to the central part '... al-Din Hamd (?) ... Kafi al-D... may (God) forgive him ... his death on...day (a day of the week) ... al-akhir (either Rabi' II or Jumadi II).

The tile most probably formed part of a panel marking the death of the person buried in a particular shrine. A comparable tile is in the Art Institute of Chicago, reference no. 1925.198.

Bonhams. Islamic and Indian Art, London, New Bond Street, 11 June 2020, 11:00 BST