Iraq

Statue of King Gudea; dolerite; Tello, Iraq; 2130 BC. © The Trustees of the BritishMuseum LONDON.- A new approach to archaeology in Iraq using high resolution drone imagery has led to the discovery, identification, and preservation of ancient buildings, from over 4,000 years ago. This is the first time drone technology has been used in this way for cultural heritage sites in southern Iraq.A unique combination of remote sensing work using high resolution drone imagery, ground-truthing and conservation techniques. Without this... [Lire la suite]

Cushion cover with tiraz inscription, Egypt, early 9th century. Wool and linen: tapestry weave. Cleveland Museum of Art, J. H. Wade Fund, 1959.48, TL42343.6. © Cleveland Museum of Art. Discover what textiles made and worn in medieval Egypt tell us about connection and belonging in a diversifying world. From swaddling newborns to enshrouding the deceased, woven fabrics touch nearly every aspect of human existence. The textiles in this exhibition are particularly meaningful, for they tell a bigger story about political and... [Lire la suite]

  Lot 252. Coupe en faïence à décor de coulures de glaçure verte, Irak abbasside, Basra, IXe siècle. Diamètre : 19,9 cm ; hauteur : 5,6 cm. Estimation :  2 000 € - 3 000 €. Courtesy Ader Large coupe sur pied circulaire en faïence à décor de quatre coulures de glaçure verte sur fond blanc. Restaurations. A splash-painted earthenware bowl, Abbasid Iraq, 9th centuryProvenance : Collection Philippe Magloire. Lot 253. Coupe en faïence à décor d’inscription bleue, Iran ou Irak abbasside,... [Lire la suite]

Lot 94. A small Abbasid lustre pottery bowl depicting two birds, Iraq, 9th century; 12.8cm. diam. Estimate: 20,000 - 30,000 GBP. Courtesy Sotheby's. the earthenware body of open form with slightly everted rim on a low foot, decorated in a dark golden monochrome lustre over an opacified tin glaze, the cavetto painted with a pair of birds around a central roundel, exterior with three medallions against a background of peacock eye motifs, old Sotheby's label. Provenance: Sotheby’s Geneva, 25 June... [Lire la suite]

Lot 96. An Abbasid tin-glazed pottery bowl, Iraq, 9th-10th century; 20.6cm. diam. Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000 GBP. Courtesy Sotheby's. the rounded body with everted rim and short foot, decorated in cobalt blue in an opacified tin glaze with a central six-petalled rosette with hatched border sprouting stylised palmettes. Note: A similar bowl, also featuring a border of stylised sprouting palmettes, is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, from the Nasli M. Heeramaneck Collection, gift of... [Lire la suite]

Lot 93. A large Abbasid tin-glazed pottery bowl, Iraq, 9th century; 9.6cm. height; 28.2cm. diam. Estimate: 40,000 - 50,000 GBP. Courtesy Sotheby's. the earthenware body decorated in cobalt blue in an opacified tin glaze, with a central stylised palm tree and wave-like designs near rim on a short foot. Note: Appearing for the first time in the late eighth or ninth century, Abbasid opaque white glazed pottery is believed to be direct evidence for Chinese imported porcelain. During a period when the Islamic world’s centre... [Lire la suite]

Lot 85. An inscribed ruby bead, Iraq, Iran or India, 14th-15th century; 5/8in. (1.5cm.) high; 3/8in. (0.8cm.) wide; ¼in. (0.5cm.) deep. Estimate GBP 5,000 - GBP 7,000 (USD 6,280 - USD 8,792). © Christie's Images Ltd 2020.  Of irregular form, the polished surface with a cursive Arabic benedictory inscription, 5.6 carat.  Christie's. Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs and Carpets, London, 2 April 2020

Statue of King Gudea; dolerite; Tello, Iraq; 2130BC © The Trustees of the British Museum. LONDON.- A new British Museum touring exhibition Ancient Iraq: new discoveries marks the first time that the Museum will tour new Iraq field research in combination with key objects from the Museum’s collection. Exploring the cultural heritage of Iraq through 80 remarkable objects, the exhibition seeks to highlight the challenges of protecting Iraq’s rich and diverse cultural heritage following decades of conflict.This new... [Lire la suite]

Earthenware cup with molded decoration and yellow and green glazes, Iraq or Syria, 8th-9th century. H: 7; Diam without handle: 13.9 cm, Inv. no. 4/2006. © The David Collection. The cup was given uniform, fairly small-patterned decorations in low relief. This type of decoration was found in the Umayyad period, though most often on unglazed ceramics, and continued under the Abbasids. Decorations like these – with rosettes, a scale-like pattern, etc. – could be applied to the finished piece by repeatedly using one or more... [Lire la suite]

Earthenware cup with molded or stamped decoration and a yellow and green glaze, Iraq or Syria, 8th-9th century. H: 7.8; Diam. at top: 12 cm, Inv. no. 26/1995 © The David Collection. Both the shape and the decoration of this cup with a handle were undoubtedly derived from models made of silver, and the prototypes could be both Roman and Sasanian. The type of pottery was already found in the Umayyad period, though most often without a glaze, while this cup was probably made slightly later, under the Abbasids. Decorations like these... [Lire la suite]