Lot 83. A Fatimid lustre dish featuring a bird amidst foliage, Egypt, 11th-12th century; 19.5cm. diam. Estimate 30,000 — 50,000 GBP. Lot Sold 37,500 GBP. Photo: Sotheby’s 2014

the earthenware body painted in lustre on an opaque white glaze, featuring a bird amidst scrolling foliage, with a turquoise splash in the centre, the exterior with stylised motifs.

Note: This earthenware bowl was painted over the glaze in golden yellow lustre with the figure of a bird amidst stylised foliage. Featuring a mix of the realistic in the detailing of the bird, and fantastic, in the wildly scrolling leaves it is set within, this bowl is characteristic of Fatimid ceramic decoration.

A similar bowl, also painted with a bird amidst scrolling vegetation, is in the al-Sabah collection, Kuwait National Museum, inv. no. LNS 294-C (O. Watson, Ceramics from Islamic Lands, The al-Sabah Collection, Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah, Kuwait National Museum, 2004, p.279, Cat. Ja.7).