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Seljuk Bowl, Kashan, Iran, late 12th/early 13th century
Kava (Kaveh/Kāwadh) and Faridūn, mounted on a cow, bring the bound Zahhak to Mount Damavand

A rare Kashan Minai Bowl depicting Faridun, Kava and Zahhak, Persia, late 12th/early 13th century
Of rounded form with slightly everted rim on a short foot, decorated with a turquoise glaze painted with grey, black and gold, the interior with a scene from the Shahnameh showing Faridun, Kava, and Zahhak, with the central figure of King Faridun riding a cow, other two figures looking inward surrounded by flower and bird motifs, inscription in Kufic around the rim with gilded outer rim, reverse inscribed in Persian above a frieze of teardrop and lozenge-form decorative shapes
22.2cm. diam.
Provenance: Paravicini Collection, Italy; Croisier Collection, Switzerland

Inscriptions

Around the exterior rim:
A benedictory Persian quatrain and the beginning of a signature.

[hamvare to-ra dawlat o 'izz afzun bad
eqbal-e to bugzashte] ze hadd birun bad
ta harche azin qadah be-kam-e to rasad
ey sadr-e jahan to-ra be-jan afzun bad

'May your wealth and glory always increase,
May your prosperity surpass all limits,
So whatever reaches your palate from this bowl,
O master of the World! May add to your life
It was written in...'

Those in Kufic around the inner rim, undeciphered.

Lot 32
04 OCTOBER 2011 | 7:00 PM BST
LONDON
Source: Sothebys