Lot 83R
A Safavid cuerda seca pottery tile depicting two maidens, possibly a scene from Jami's Yusuf va Zulaykha Persia, 18th Century
25 October 2021, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £2,550 inc. premium
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A Safavid cuerda seca pottery tile depicting two maidens, possibly a scene from Jami's Yusuf va Zulaykha
Persia, 18th Century
Persia, 18th Century
of square form, decorated in cobalt-blue, turquoise, yellow, ochre, green and manganese with black outline on a white ground with two maidens, one holding a knife to peel the fruit to her left, the other gazing at the knife, a further elbow to the lower right, the top right corner with foliate motifs
23.7 x 23.6 cm.
23.7 x 23.6 cm.
Footnotes
The presence of the knife and orange implies that the tile was once part of a panel depicting the story of Yusuf va Zulaykha, specifically the part of the story where maidens faint or accidently cut their fingers instead of oranges upon the appearance of the beautiful Yusuf in Zukayka's chamber. The Islamic tradition to which Yusuf va Zulaykha belongs starts with the Quran in which an entire sura is devoted to the Judaeo-Christian prophet and the trials he endured, first at the hands of his brothers, and then because of the propositions of his master's wife, Zulaykha.
Important Notice to Buyers
Some countries e.g., the US, prohibit or restrict the purchase by its citizens (wherever located) and/or the import of certain types of Iranian-origin works. As a convenience to buyers, Bonhams has marked with the symbol R all lots of Iranian (Persian) origin. It is each buyer's responsibility to ensure that they do not bid or import a lot in contravention of the sanctions or trade embargoes that apply to them.