A Samanid Calligraphic Conical Pottery Bowl, Eastern Iranian world, 11th century; 11 1/8in. (28.3cm.) diam. Price Realized: £4,375. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2012

On short flat foot, the incised black slip-painted decoration on cream ground, the cavetto decorated with an inscription in bold foliated kufic script, with numerous upstrokes interlocking and forming geometric motifs, some over dotted ground, the rim with black line, repaired breaks, some restorations

Provenance: Asian market, 1970s.

Notes: A closely related bowl, although showing fewer ligatures between the kufic letters is in the Al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait (Oliver Watson, Ceramics from Islamic Lands, London, 2004, p.217, cat.Ga.16).

Christie's. ISLAMIC & INDIAN WORKS OF ART & TEXTILES. 27 April 2012. London, South Kensington