A rare carved calligraphic calcite Weight probably Anatolia, 13th Century
21W
A rare carved calligraphic calcite Weight
probably Anatolia, 13th Century
of horseshoe form with a central bar, one flat side relief-carved with a naskhi inscription
40 x 35 x 17.5 cm.
Estimate:
£7,000 - 10,000
€8,200 - 12,000
US$ 11,000 - 15,000

Footnotes

  • The inscription reads: bargerefteh nasir al-din muhammad bar-dari be-farsh-e khofteh-ye dolla va az pay,'Nasir al-Din Muhammad has lifted a carpet on a beam, rolled and folded and from base'.

    There are three main theories for the possible uses of objects of this type, both suggested by examples that have appeared on the art market at Christie's in recent years: one is for tethering animals in the royal stables, based on an inscription on a polychrome-decorated pair offered at Christie's in 2000 (Islamic Art and Manuscripts, London, 10th October 2000, lot 318), which unusually included the word al-'urta or "grazing on shrubs" amidst an an honorific inscription; the second is for tethering guy-ropes of tents on hospitable ground (Islamic Art and Manuscripts, 23rd April 2002, lot 64); and a third inscription has a similar inscription to this second example, but also mentions "folded carpet" (Islamic Art and Manuscripts, 29th April 2003).

Category: Islamic and Oriental Art / Islamic and Indian Art

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Contacts

Oliver White Bonhams
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Auction Administration - Islamic and Indian Art