Oliver White
Head of Department
Lot 27
A rare Samanid monochrome moulded pottery Tile Persia, 10th Century
23 April 2013, 10:30 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £4,750 inc. premium
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A rare Samanid monochrome moulded pottery Tile
Persia, 10th Century
Persia, 10th Century
of rectangular form moulded with a repeat design of hexagonal medallions containing stylised flower heads, the border with an undulating line, all under a green glaze
19 x 17 cm.
19 x 17 cm.
Footnotes
Provenance: acquired from Professor Ernst J. Grube, 7th April 1976.
The accompanying note written by Professor Grube says: "The small tile, decorated with a geometric design filled with floral rosettes in high relief under a heavy green glaze, comes from Gurgan, and has been found in the area of a 10th Century building, which is almost certainly decorated.
This tile is the only one of its kind I have so far seen, a few others which were found in the same place, and which are much less well preserved, are the only other examples of the type that appear to have survived.
It is interesting to note that there is no example of such tile-work in the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection."