the faceted base rising to a broad shoulder and narrow neck gently widening at mouth, the moulded body of the dragon wrapped around the upper section, twisting its head around the neck, its mouth agape
18.8 cm high

Footnotes

A similar dragon or serpent-like form emerges from the spout on a blue and white ewer in the Victoria and Albert Museum (A. Lane, Later Islamic Pottery, London, 1971, no. 75). For many Safavid animal forms, such as elephants, phoenixes, toads and dragons, there are Chinese prototypes in drinking vessels, which were adapted for use as in Persia.

For a discussion of Safavid blue and white shapes in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London see Y. Crowe, Persia and China, La Borie, 2002.

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A rare Safavid underglaze painted, moulded pottery Bottle with the figure of a dragon Persia, early 17th Century

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Matthew Thomas