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THE KELEKIAN COLLECTION

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PERSIAN anno ANALOGOUS Pt 1 CIES

| 1889-1910

HERBERT CLARKE 338. RUE SAINT-HONORE

I : PARIS 1Q10

Of this Catalogue, one hundred and one copies have

been printed of which: this ts’ No. 3..000004--.

PREFACE

When, scarcely fifteen years ago, the early potteries of Persia became known, first to explorers and subsequently to collectors, a new manifesta- tion of ceramic art was presented to the world, for these potteries have as distinctly a character of their own as they have a provenance. The later potteries, the metallic lustres and the Persian and Rhodian polychromes, had for long been known and admired as examples of a singularly colorful artistic expression. The older Persian potteries, unearthed in the excavations made on the sites of Rakka, Sultanabad, and Rhages, cities which had had a former splendor, added value to the more recent products, since they supplied the missing chapter in the history of the development of an art which must one day be ranked with any the world has known.

The warm and lovely tones of the lustre potteries and the beautiful harmonies of color in the polychromes all had their prototypes in the more archaic wares, which in their turn were inspired by the still earlier Coptic, Greek, Egyptian, Babylonian, and Assyrian potteries. In the comparatively brief time during which researches have been made in Persia, the sequential development of the art of pottery-making has been clearly demonstrated by important finds, some of them fortunately dated.

The ruins of Sultanabad and Veramin were discovered in 1905, the former on the domain of Sadik-i-Houmayun, and the latter on that owned: by Naibé Saltané, the brother of the late Shah. From the diggings made there have come some magnificent vases, pitchers and bowls, occasionally intact. I have in my collection three dated Sultanabad pieces. One bowl, decorated with the seated figure of a king, is dated 624 of the Hegira. Another lustre bowl with an animal in the centre bears the date 668, and still another, a turquoise blue bowl, has an inscription border in which is found the date, 677 of the Hegira—1299 a.v. Other dated Sultanabad pieces are owned in private collections in Europe and America.

The first piece of pottery unearthed at Rakka came to light in 1806. These finds seem to be of an even earlier date than those of Sultanabad, and since this city was three times capital of as many nations, the potteries found there may represent a number of styles covering several centuries. The excavations of Messrs. Dieulafoy and De Morgan, at and near Suse, have discovered still other examples of the Persian potters’ art; and Rhages, hitherto imperfectly explored, is soon to be systematically uncovered under the direc- tion of the French Government. So the story unfolds.

The first of the Rakka and Sultanabad potteries which came to my attention, bore so strongly the marks of Assyrian and Babylonian influences that I conceived the idea of making a chronological collection which would show, by the best procurable examples, the different stages through which the potteries of all the countries of the Near East grew and expanded into the finest expression of them all, that which was made in Persia while that country was at the flood-tide of its national and consequently of its pro- ductive life.

The 12th and 13th Centuries seem to have been Persia’s Golden Age, and the specimens of pottery known to have been made at that time, bear every indication of having been created as works of art, commemorative of royal conquests, as regal gifts, even as portrait plaques. Many of them are decorated with representations of kings and princes and the logical inference is that the potters of those times were esteemed more as artists than as artisans. Hence their creations are the only pictorial records which remain to us of that romantic period of Persia’s history ; and as such they are valuable historical documents, having the peculiar advantage of being at the same time, rarely pleasing artistic objects. |

The task of making a lucid chronological collection, such as I have attempted to gather together, was enormous, for none of the countries bordering on Persia had ever produced potteries abundantly. Their channels of expression had led them into other forms of the plastic arts. Then too, the chances of finding unbroken specimens are slimmer, the further away we are in point of time from the date of production. Vigilance and zeal, however, are the successful aids of a collector, and, little by little, I have had come into my possession from innumerable sources—and at an immense expenditure of both money and pains—the pieces which | have needed to make the history of the potteries, as far as it 1s known to-day, complete,

The marvellous Babylonian jar, which begins the series has a tur- quoise blue glaze entirely Persian in tone. Only the form and the character of the relief decoration are Babylonian in spirit. Another blue vase, which surely prophesied some later Persian products, is Egyptian, No. 2; and still another of a mysterious blue-green ground, decorated with a frieze in relief is Partho-Egyptian.

Very lately, in the spring of 1910, I was fortunate enough to find in Egypt, two pieces of pottery of unmistakable early Christian workmanship, They are extremely interesting also as forerunners of the Persian styles. They are of the 8th or oth Centuries. The next specimen, in point of age, in my collection, is a Fostat vase of a metallic lustre, No. 8, certainly made a

century before the lustres were perfected in Persia. Yet of much the same character are my archaic Sultanabad vase No. 9, and the graceful little jug, No. 10, both beautiful pieces, and to my mind certainly among the earliest potteries of Persian make. They are so like the Fostat ware that they must. have been evolved from it.

The oldest piece of dated pottery, I own, is a star mosque tile, It bears an inscription with the date 515 of the Hegira, and it was found in the ruins of a mosque in Central Persia. The ground is of the characteristic Persian turquoise blue, and the tile is heavily oxidized, witha silver iridescence.

My other dated pieces are of a later production, and, since each is very distinctive in its class and time, they all contribute to the visual history of faience which I have attempted to make. I have included also in my collec- tion, a few examples of potteries which were outgrowths of the Persian types, as obviously inspired by them as were the Persian wares by the other earlier potteries of Asia Minor and Egypt. Occasionally the resemblances are very marked as in the Seculo-Arab vase, No. 78, inthe Italian plate- bowl, No. 108, found at Orvieto, near Rome, and in the Rhodian flower jar, No. 109, which was made at the Caffagiolo works and has the fabrication mark. The porcelain pitcher, No. 110, is likewise Italian, although its decoration is a favourite motive of the Damascus potteries and must have been copied from them, if it was not actually made by one of the Damascus artists. The Persian im- print on the Spanish 14th and 15th Century lustre ware, made at Cordova, Malaga and Valencia, is too apparent to need demonstration.

My object in selecting the specimens which make up my collection has been to establish the right of the Persian potteries to be regarded as one of the powerful artistic impulses of all time. No artists of any epoch have so fully understood the principles of decoration, and their works, the few of them which have come down to us, are a lasting monument to their skill. Persian art is Decoration in its highest interpretation. The day when it will receive its full meed of appreciation and understanding is not, I am convinced, far distant. It only remains for the beautiful potteries to be recognized as the lovely works of art they undoubtedly are, for their beauty and their charm to be felt. Classified, as] have attempted to arrange them in my collection, they present a logical and luminous study, as convincing as a collection of Italian paintings might be from the days of Giotto to the decline of the Renaissance. Unfortunately no mechanical reproduction can possibly give an idea of the delicacy of their color and the beauty of their designs.

So far, the scarcity of good specimens, their fragility, and the difficulty in procuring them, have kept the Persian potteries from becoming as widely

known and consequently understood as they surely will be. It has been my humble duty, and my very great personal pleasure to contribute my efforts towards introducing them to an intelligent public. To this end, I published in Paris last year, a brief history of this art of the Near East. The little book, to my extreme gratification, met with an instant success. Such authorities as Henry Wallis—the doyen of us all in this field—Sir Cecil Smith and Charles Wylde, Esq., of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London; Dr. Pit, of the Amsterdam Museum; Professor Sayce, of Cambridge; Dr. Sarré and Dr. Von Falke, of the Berlin Museum; Dr. Denman Ross, of the Boston Museum; Yacoub Artine Pacha, of the Cairo Museum; Miss Mary Cassatt, the eminent American artist; Dr. Fouquet, of Cairo, whose own research work is well-known, have assured me that I have helped to clarify and crystallize their own impressions on this subject.

Encouraged by their sympathy, and largely at their suggestion, | am producing the present catalogue of my collection with reproductions and detailed descriptions of the individual pieces. As it now exists, this collection is the most complete I know, and it is a record of my study of the Persian potteries covering a period of twenty-six years, and my work in collect- ing them up to the present time. If it succeeds in presenting these beautiful works of art in such a fashion as to make them better known and appreciated, ] shall feel that my labors have not been in vain.

DIKRAN KHAN KELEKIAN.

LIST OF PLATES

BABYLONIAN TROPHY CUP. About 1,000 B.c.

EGYPTIAN VASE. Probably epoch Said .. ois a oe PARTHO-EGYPTIAN VASE. Found at Fayoum. Probably 28th Dynasty GREEK CUP WITH HANDLES. Found at Tyre. About 300 s.c. COPTIC JAR... Found at\;Akmium.-ViIll-Gentury =

COPTIC BOWL. Found near Luxor. Probably IX acne

FOSTAT JAR. Found at. Old Cairo, IX Century

FOSTAT VASE. Found at Old Cairo. XI Century

SULTANABAD ALBARELLO. Found at Sultanabad sa PERSIAN BOTTLE-VASE WITH HANDLE. Found at Sultanabad FOSTAT BOWL. Found at Old Cairo. Probably XI Century. ARABIC VASE. Found at Rakka. Possibly X Century.

PERSIAN VASE. Found at Sultanabad. XI Century LARGE ARABIC BOWL. Found at Rakka. Probably X ee PERSIAN VASE. Found at Sultanabad. Probably XI Century PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XII Century ..

PERSIAN BOTTLE. Found at Sultanabad.. XII Century.

LARGE PERSIAN TURQUOISE BOTTLE. Found at Sul:anabad. XII Cuties :

PERSIAN MOSQUE TILE, 1137

GOMBROON LETTUCE WHITE BOWL. Soa at aca ba Geant

ARABIC VASE. Found at Rakka. XII Century .. ». PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Rhages. Probably XI Century PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Rhages. XIII Century

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Rhages. XII Century

PERSIAN BOTTLE JUG. Found at Rhages. XIII Century PERSIAN LUSTRE BOWL... Found at Rhages. XII Century .. LARGE PERSIAN PLATE. Found at Rhages. XIII Century .. DEEP PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Rhages. XIII Century PERSIAN LARGE PLATE. Found at Rhages: XIII Century .

PERSIAN PITCHER VASE, WITH HANDLE.: Found at ines, XITI Gaal

PERSIAN VASE. Found at Rhages,. Xd].

PERSIAN TURQUOISE GREEN BOWL. Found at Sategebad. XII Century .

LARGE PERSIAN VASE. Found at Sultanabad. XII Century LARGE PERSIAN VASE. Found at Sultanabad. XII Century . ARABIC VASE. Found at Rakka. XII Century. ARABIC ALBARELLO. Found at Rakkal XII eS By PERSIAN ALBARELLO. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century PERSIAN ALBARELLO. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century

PERSIAN LUSTRE BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Dated 624 of the Hegira.

PERSIAN FLAT BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century

PERSIAN BOTTLE VASE WITH HANDLE. Found at Sultanabad. XII Cent.

PERSIAN LUSTRE BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century PERSIAN LUSTRE BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century PERSIAN FLUTED BOWL. Found at Hamadan. XIII Century TALL PERSIAN PITCHER-VASE. . Found at Rhages. XIII Century . PERSIAN DEEP BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century LARGE PERSIAN VASE. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century

PERSIAN BOWL. Found.at Sultanabad. XIII Century .

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century . te PERSIAN DEEP BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Dated 668 of the oti PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century .

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Suitanabad. XIII Century

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century

PERSIAN PLATE. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century

PERSIAN DEEP BOWL. Found at Sultanabad .. ;

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century

PERSIAN PLATE OR LOW BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century ..

PERSIAN TILE. Found at.Sultanabad. XIIJi Century .. PERSIAN VASE. Found.at Sultanabad. XIII Century .. PERSIAN PLATE. Found at Sultanabad. XIII] Century ‘ LARGE PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century. PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century - PERSIAN LARGE BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century PERSIAN ANIMAL BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century LARGE PERSIAN BOWL.. Found at Sultanabad. XII or XIII] Century PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century PERSIAN PLATE. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century PERSIAN BOTTLE. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad, 1299

PERSIAN BOTTLE VASE WITH HANDLE. Found at Sulfadabad XII cine.

PERSIAN BOTTLE VASE. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century PERSIAN LUSTRE BOWL. Found at Rhages. XIII Century i PERSIAN VASE-JUG WITH HANDLE. Found at Rhages. XIII Century PERSIAN FLAT VASE. Found at Sultanabad. XIII Century .. PERSIAN BOTTLE VASE. Found at Daghestan. XIII Century LARGE PERSIAN VASE. Found at Teheran. Late XIII Century BAGDAD VASE. Found at Bagdad. XIV Century

PERSIAN PLATE. Found at Koubatcha in Daghestan. Dated 873 of the Hegira. PERSIAN DEEP TURQUOISE PLATE. Found at Koubatcha. XV Century ..

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PERSIAN TURQUOISE PLATE. Found at Koubatcha. XV Century PERSIAN POLYCHROME PLATE. Found at Koubatcha. XV Century PERSIAN PORTRAIT PLATE. Found at Koubatcha. XV

PERSIAN ANIMAL PLATE. Found at Koubatcha. XV Century

‘PERSIAN LUSTRE BOTTLE. Found at Teheran. XV Century

PERSIAN LUSTRE PLATE. Found at Tebriz. XVI Century

PERSIAN BOTTLE. Found at Teheran. XVI Century .

PERSIAN LUSTRE BOTTLE. Found at Tebriz. XVI Century SMALL PERSIAN LUSTRE BOWL. Found at Diarbekir. XVI ert TALL PERSIAN LUSTRE BOTTLE. Found at Teheran. .XVI Century PERSIAN PLATE. Found at Keshan. XVI Century bs

PERSIAN MOSQUE GLOBE. Found at Teheran. XVI Century DAMASCUS PLATE. Found at Damascus. XVI Century

DAMASCUS PLATE. Found at Damascus. XVI Century :

LARGE DAMASCUS PLATE. Found at Damascus. XVI Century : RHODIAN BOTTLE OF REMARKABLE SIZE. Elton Collection. XVI Century. RHODIAN MOSQUE GLOBE: From a Mosque at Broussa. XVI Century DAMASCUS BOTTLE. Found at Damascus. XVI Century

TALL DAMASCUS BOTTLE. Found at Broussa. XVI Century ; DAMASCUS BLUE AND WHITE JAR. Found at Damascus. XVI Geteany RHODIAN JUG WITH HANDLE. Found at Constantinople. XVI Century . RHODIAN BOTTLE. Found at Salonica. XVI Century

KUTAHIA BOTTLE FLASK. Found at Aleppo. XVI Century

KUTAHIA SAUCER. Found at Aleppo. Dated 1719

KUTAHIA MUG. Found at Aleppo. Dated 1787

ITALIAN PLATE BOWL. Found at Orvieto. XIV Century

ITALIAN FLOWER JAR. Style Rhodian. XVI Century a ie DAMASCUS PITCHER MADE IN ITALY. From the Spitzer Sale. XVI Century LARGE PERSIAN VASE. Found at Sultanabad. XII Century

VASE, Sassanian or later. Found at Sultanabad. XI-XII Century

100 IOI

102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 III

112

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PLATE 1.

BABYLONIAN TROPHY CUP, with two handles. About

1,000 B.c. Deep turquoise blue glaze, silver and gold iridescence.

Relief decoration, a horseman, probably a king or satrap on the body of the vase, a winged head at the base. An extremely rare

and handsome specimen, of fine proportions.

Height: 28 centimetres.

PLATE 2.

EGYPTIAN VASE, with two handles terminating in ivy leaves. Probably epoch Said. This specimen is of an unusual size, and a beautiful, brilliant turquoise blue, similar to the finest of the early Egyptian pottery figures.

Height : 27 centimetres. Circumference : 46 centimetres.

ig BATE 3.

PARTHO- EGYPTIAN VASE. Probably 28th Dynasty. Found at Fayoum. Decoration in. relief, three» band -friezes running around the body of the vase, two containing animals and human figures, suggesting a hunt; a relief floral motive in the upper band, and a lotus- acanthus design i in the lower. Colors, pale turquoise, — lavender and brown. This is a very rare and unique apannes of this period.

oH mae 12 centimetres.

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PLATE 4.

GREEK CUP WITH HANDLES. Found at Tyre. About 300 p.c. Pale turquoise green ground glaze on the outside, and canary yellow, in excellent preservation, on the inside. An exquisitely drawn ivy wreath, with the berries and leaves, encircles the cup. The decoration is in relief and wonderfully realistic in its effect. The handles are more primitive and spring from the familiar Greek ram’s head. This little cup is a chaste and delicate demonstration of the Greek pottery.

Height: 7 centimetres. Diameter with handles: 14 centimetres.

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. ‘ | SOP TG. JAR. Found together with some Coptic manu- : ee ~ oa | scripts, in a ruined monastery at Akmim. Eighth Century. Pale a=) : a, oF 4 green lustre glaze, decoration having some religious significance, a . incised on the body of the vase, an allegorical figure, a chalice, i: ae a Byzantine cross, flowers and a bird. ‘This is an exceptionally | | ae si hy. Mat large specimen of Coptic pottery. _

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COPTIC BOWL. Found near Luxor. Probably Ninth Century. Brownish-gold lustre decoration on a pale cream ground, a priest ina gorgeous robe, holding a censer anda large” palm branch. There is a Cuffic inscription on the back of the bowl. . 4 . | | Height: g centimetres. Diameter: 22 centimetres.

PLATE 7.

FOSTAT JAR. Found at Old Cairo. Ninth Century. Olive gray ground glaze, with archaic decoration of lines and panels filled in with lozenge forms. A most harmonious color effect produced by the graduated lines. The vase is in extremely good proportions. ; |

Height: 25 centimetres. Circumference: 57 centimetres.

PLATE &.

FOSTAT VASE. Found at Old Cairo. Eleventh Century. Made of coarse clay with an uneven mottled surface, but a fine lustre. Handsome, bold decoration in brown tones on an ivory ground, foliage forming medallions in which are enclosed birds holding branches and leaves in their beaks. Possibly the birds are intended to represent the crow which was the emblem of Old Cairo. A very effective and important piece and one of the few perfect specimens of Fostat pottery in existence.

Height: 21 centimetres.

PLATE 9.

SULTANABAD ALBARELLO. Found at Sultanabad in Persia. Probably of about the same epoch as the Fostat Vase, Plate 8. Of a curious conical form, and very archaic decoration. A sea-green ground glaze imperfectly covers the clay underform. Decorative band with floral motives. The character of this vase suggests the earliest Persian pottery.

Height: 19 centimetres.

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PLATE to.

PERSIAN BOTTLE-VASE WITH HANDLE. Found at Sultanabad. Of the same style and probably the same period as the vase in Plate 9. An unusually graceful form, with a slender neck. Ivory ground glaze, with decoration in brown lustre on the upper curved surface of the vase a series of alternating tri- angular panels containing floral motives and Cuffic inscriptions. There are four nebulous bands in turquoise and lapis lazuli extending perpendicularly over both the decorated and the plain surfaces. This is a lovely example of early Persian art.

Height: 23 centimetres. Circumference: 40 centimetres.

PEATE 22.

FOSTAT BOWL. Found at Old Cairo. Probably Eleventh Century. Made of the coarse Egyptian clay, but with a fine ivory glaze. An effective, conventionalized blossom ornament in old- gold lustre covers the whole inside of the bowl, the ground forming the petals which have an inside lustre ornament. The bowl is intact, and, though crude in drawing, its design is very

decorative. Diameter: 1g centimetres.

“PLATE 12.

ARABIC VASE. Foundat Rakka. Possibly Tenth Century. This vase is of a pitcher form with a handle. The ground is ivory and the surface decoration is in olive brown lustre. The motives are conventionalized blossoms and small branches, pri- mitive in drawing but spaced with a fine sense of their decora- tive value. There is a Cuffic inscription on the neck, which has been repaired. ‘a Height: 25 centimetres.

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PERSIAN’ \VASE. “Found at Sulteaebad etent Cains.

a. . ters A large and very handsome specimen, having four handles. The

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an acanthus leat design at the base.

lapis-lazuli blue, and the decoration consists of . three bands containing | three different characters of Cuffic letters, | und of “gracefully drawn floral scrolls. ‘There is

ce irewmference : Fs 9 centimetres.

PLATE 14.

LARGE ARABIC BOWL. Found at Rakka. Probably Tenth Century. Pale sea-green ground glaze with decoration in aubergine. There is a boldly drawn seated female figure in the body of this bowl, wearing a flowing robe and holding a wine cup in her hand. In the background is a musical instrument suggesting a harp, and a series of graceful floral scrolls. Although this design is crudely drawn, it shows the same fine sense of the placing of decorative motives, noticeable in all the Persian potteries. )

Height: 15 centimetres. Diameter: 2g centimetres.

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PLATE r5.

PERSIAN VASE. Found at Sultanabad. Probably Eleventh Century. Blue ground glaze, and brown lustre surface decora- tion. The form of this piece is extremely unusual. ‘There are four indented panels, each of which contains a crudely suggested female figure. Four curved convex panels contain Cuflic inscrip- tions. The top has been repaired in bronze. The vase proper, judging from its form, and the archaic style of its decoration, must date from a very early period of Persian pottery making.

Height of Pottery: 15 centimetres. With top: 22 centimetres.

PEATE z6:

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Twelfth Cen- tury. Warm gray ground glaze, decorated with a large dog, running. The Sultanabad potteries sometimes have animal motives, and, more often than not, the animals are represented in violent action, the effect of motion being produced by bold black ‘lines. The background of this bowl is a mosaic leaf pattern, and two large leaf forms are placed above and below the running dog to balance the composition. The colors are the two rich blues familiar to all Persian potteries, and there is a fine silver irides- cense covering a portion of the glaze.

Height; 12 centimetres. Diameter: 21 centimetres

PEAR. 1:

PERSIAN BOTTLE. Found at Sultanabad. Twelfth Cen- tury. Deep lapis-lazuli, shading to light on the raised surfaces. This bottle is of an extraordinary shape, having a long, pointed spout and a handle. It is archaic, though graceful. On the body of the bottle is a frieze band in relief, the design consisting of a sort of procession of two horsemen and two walking warriors, possibly intended to depict a conquest. As an example of early Persian work, this piece of pottery is very valuable.

Height to point of spout: 27 1/2 centimetres.

Circumference : 45 centimetres.

PLATE 18.

LARGE PERSIAN TURQUOISE BOTTLE. Found at Sultanabad. Twelfth Century. The ground glaze is a finely graduated turquoise blue. The bottle is of a flattened spherical shape, with a relief frieze of running wild animals on the upper section. Each animal is different, all are in violent action, and they appear to be pursued by a dog. There is a foliage scroll which follows the frieze, and above are two small borders with raised lozenge ornaments. The top of the bottle is finished with a rounded spout. The surface is slightly oxidized with a silver and gold incrustation. The size and shape of this specimen put it in the exceptional class.

Height : 24 centimetres. Cicumference : 70 centimetres.

PLATE 19.

PERSIAN MOSQUE TILE. Found in a ruined mosque in Central Persia. Dated 515 of the Hegira, 1127 a.D. The tile is in the form of an eight-pointed star. The original glaze is a lovely warm turquoise blue which has become oxidized with a silver iridescence. There is a border around the outside edge which contains an inscription in which is included the date. This is the earliest known dated piece of pottery of Persian workman- ship.

Width: 20 centimetres.

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PLATE ‘20.

GOMBROON LETTUCE WHITE BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Twelfth Century. Clear greenish-white ground glaze. This is a fine specimen of the pottery mentioned by the Persian traveller, Nassiri Khosrau, as having been made in Egypt during the Ninth Century. There is very little surface decoration on the pottery of this sort made in Persia, and it more nearly resembles porcelain than pottery. This particular bowl has a graceful leaf and branch design in the centre, the leaves in blue outlined in black There are three black rings surrounding the design, and a black rim. The upper edge curves in and is orna- mented with a very beautiful rice grain border in star design.

Height: g centimetres. Diameter of top: 17 centimetres.

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PLATE 23.

ARABIC VASE. Found at Rakka. Twelfth Century. Pale blue ground glaze, irregular at the base. The decoration which is in brown and deep blue, consists of a series of bands, the most striking, in the middle of the vase, made up of three rows of scrolls. On each side of the wide band, and on the neck are three narrow bands of Arabic inscriptions. This is a handsome, though somewhat crude specimen of Rakka pottery.

Height: 25 centimetres.

PLATE 22.

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Rhages. Probably Eleventh Century. Ivory ground, decoration in polychrome. ‘This little bowl is a distinctive early Rhages specimen. It is at the same time more simply and more elaborately treated than the later examples from these diggings. The ground is covered with an arabesque pattern, the spaces used as settings for a series of small seated figures, a king in the centre, surrounded by six other per- sonages, possibly members of his court. The robes of these figures are not executed in the elaborate fashion of the later Rhages pieces. They are in flat tones with flecks of rose lustre only. Three are in blue, and three in aubergine, while the back- ground design is in old tan. The inscription on this bowl is in Cuffic which places it as early. Arabic was used in Persia during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and Persian still later. There is some question about the date of production of the Rhages finds. Their execution indicates skilful workmanship ; but there is a rumor that one of these matte white bowls with polychrome decoration exists in Persia which bears the date 443 of the Hegira, If this rumor is confirmed, the Rhages potteries must be accepted as the first of the native Persian products.

Height: 8 1/2 centimetres. Diameter: 1g 1/2 centimetres.

PLATE 23.

- PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Rhages. Thirteenth Century. Cream matte ground. The inside decoration is made up of nine figures, a king seated on a throne in the centre, surrounded by eight female figures, possibly the members of the king’s harem. They are offering wine, playing musical instruments and dancing.

Each figure wears a costume of different design, and all of them

are in the full polychrome palette, which was the speciality of the Rhages artists. Black is used effectively as an accent, and there are gold incrustations introduced into the design. On the reverse of the bowl are two love-birds, and a Cuffic inscription, forming ‘a border. The bowl is the finest known specimen of the Rhages _ potteries.

. Height: 6 1/2 centimetres. Diameter: 19 centimetres.

PLATE 24.

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Rhages. Twelfth Century. Cream matte ground. The decoration consists of two seated figures, probably a king and queen. These figures are drawn with the graceful lines characteristic of the Rhages treatment of the human form. They are clothed in handsome robes of rich design and gorgeous colors, inlaid with gold. The motives in the stuffs composing the robes are Sirens having female heads, framed in medallions with geometric borders, an unusual and intricate pattern. This piece has been slightly repaired, but the design is untouched and it isa beautiful example of Rhages workman- - ship.

Height: &§ 1/2 centimetres. Diameter: 21 1/2.

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PLATE 25.

PERSIAN BOTTLE JUG. Found at Rhages. Thirteenth Century. The ground of this specimen is a deep, warm lapis lazuli. It is entirely covered with a series of panel stripes con- taining scrolls and small circular motives inlaid with gold. The colors used in the ornamentation are very rich, and the whole effect of this piece is exceptionally handsome. The form is good and the long handle is well placed.

Height: 21 centimetres.

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PLATE 26.

PERSIAN LUSTRE BOWL. Found at Rhages. Twelfth Century. Inthe centre of this bowl are two crudely drawn figures seated under a tree. The frieze decoration on the sloping sides is composed of six medallions containing horsemen. In the alternating spaces are trees of the same archaic character as that in the central design. There is a Cuflic inscription in a border running around the upper edge. The bowl is decorated on the back with a geometric design. All the decoration is in brown lustre on a cream white ground.

Height: 10 centimetres. Diameter: 22 centimetres.

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PLATE 27.

LARGE PERSIAN PLATE. Found at Rhages. Thirteenth Century. Shades of brown with copper lustre. This plate is covered entirely by a design which depicts a queen seated under a tent watching a procession of horsemen, clad in costumes of different patterns. There are forty-one warriors in this triumphal defile. In the spaces formed by the fluted curves of the plate are well-drawn elephants, the symbol of conquest. On the reverse is a leaf mosaic pattern. Both the composition and the drawing are remarkable, and since the plate is of unusual size, it is in every way a valuable addition to pottery history.

Diameter: {2 centimetres.

PLATE 28.

DEEP PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Rhages. Thirteenth Century. Ivory ground glaze with the decoration in rose-copper lustre. The figure composition which ornaments this specimen is almost as wonderful as that in the dark plate shown in No. 27. Here there isa group of twenty-four persons around a tall cyprus tree, in whose branches is a bird. There are birds above and below. the figures and fish in a basin below. ‘Three inscription borders are worked into the decoration, two on the inside of the bowl, and one on the Hat upper rim. A large leaf pattern covers the outside. No color is used on this bowl, but there are two acci- dental turquoise spots in the centre. The bowl has been parti- ally repaired, but.no portion of the design is missing, and, as it is, it gives a good idea of the wealth of decorative talent which existed in Persia in its day.

Height: 15 centimetres. Diameter : 34 centimetres.

PLATE 29.

PERSIAN LARGE PLATE. Found at Rhages. Thirteenth Century.. Ivory ground glaze, decoration in rose, copper lustre. This plate is one of a very few of the ambitious, early Persian figure compositions. Its surface is covered with ornamentation, and the composition contrives to give an impression of splendor, and great luxury, an effect the artist was doubtless aiming at. In the centre is a white elephant, gaily caparisoned, framed in a circular border of Arabic writing. On the sloping sides is a frieze of seated figures in voluminous, Oriental robes. There are ten of these personages, each wearing a costume of a different design. The background is a mass of scrolls, and on the outside edge is another inscription. There is a simple shell pattern on the reverse side of this piece. It is of uncommon size and great beauty, and has been only slightly repaired.

Diameter: {2 centimetres.

PLATE 3o.

PERSIAN PITCHER VASE, WITH HANDLE. Found at Rhages. Thirteenth Century. Tan cream ground glaze. The surface of this piece is not flat, but is made to form irregular star- shaped panels, outlined with a geometric border. The upper panels contain very archaic representations of seated figures, the lower have leaf scrolls. All the decoration is in copper lustre, with notes of olive green, blue and rose introduced agreeably. There is an Arabic inscription on the upper inside edge.

Height: 23 centimetres.

PLATE 31,

PERSIAN VASE. Found at Rhages. Twelfth Century. The ground glaze of this piece is a rich olive turquoise on which the decoration shows brilliantly in clear blue. The spacing of the decoration is admirably balanced. The lower section is a series of panels; the upper half bears an inscription band, in which the graceful characters of the script have all the effectiveness of an imaginative decorative motive. Small plain panels surround the neck. The remarkable qualities of this specimen are its beauti- ful colors and its excellent proportions.

Height: 19 centimteres. Circumference: 37 centimetres.

PLATE 32.

PERSIAN TURQUOISE GREEN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Twelfth Century. Deep, rich turquoise ground glaze, ornament in black, a beautiful illustration of the use of this typical Persian combination. In the central medallion is a horse- man, the horse being shown in action. An Arabic inscription frames this medallion, and the wider, stronger border on the upper edge suggests Cuffic characters. The outside is decorated with simple leaf motives. The shape of this bowl is charming, the sides sloping outward in a flower like form. The surface is

slightly oxidized in places.

Height: 7 centimetres. Diameter: 21 centimetres.

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PLATE 33:

LARGE PERSIAN VASE. Found at Sultanabad. Twelfth Century. The ground glaze is rich turquoise blue and the deco- ration is in black, a scheme which was popular with the Persian _artists through all the centuries of their pottery making. This early specimen is of remarkable size and beauty. There are four distinct kinds of decorative motives used upon it. The band at the base contains a scroll; the wide band around the curved body has an interlaced ribbon, the spaces left between the ribbons being filled in with a pattern which remotely suggests the fish scale ornament of the later Rhodian potteries. Another scroll band encircles. the neck, and below is an inscription in Arabic

characterts:. Height : 24 centimetres.

PLATE. 34.

LARGE PERSIAN VASE. Found at Sultanabad. Twelfth Century. Turquoise blue ground glaze with applied ornaments in black. In general character this vase resembles the one shown in Plate 33. The scroll band around the neck is similar to that in the other large blue vase, but the rest of the decoration is different. The main ornamentation is a series of perpendicular panels, one containing the primitive fish-scale motive, and the other Arabic characters. The blue under glaze separates the panels and forms a frame for them. At the base of the vase is a procession of small tishes, drawn with great simplicity. Both this specimen and its companion are heavily coated with a beauti-

ful iridescence.

Heigth : 26 centimetres.

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PLATE 35.

ARABIC VASE. Found at Rakka. Twelfth Century. Pale sea-green ground glaze, which, as is frequent in the early potter- ies, does not entirely cover the lower portion of the vase. The decoration, which is striking, is in aubergine, and there are three vivid blue bands forming the principal frieze. The ornaments, which compose the frieze, are floral medallions and Arabic charac- ters. There is a fine copper lustre in the glaze of this specimen, which was probably among the earliest of the lustre potteries made in Persia.

Height : 24 centimetres.

PLATE 36,

ARABIC ALBARELLO. Found at Rakka. Twelfth Century. Pale green ground glaze, with a touch of rose lustre in the auber- gine surface decoration. The body of this jar is divided into twelve narrow panels with alternating patterns in leaf and scroll running designs, crudely suggested. Bright blue stripes separate the panels. The glaze is slightly oxidized. —

Height : 26 centimetres.

PLATE 37.

PERSIAN ALBARELLO. Found at Sultanabad. Thir- teenth Century. This vase is of a handsome ruby lustre on a cream ground. Its shape is graceful. On the convex central portion is an effective and rare design of flying birds, against a background which suggests, remotely, clouds. There are touches of blue in the scroll bands, and a blue stripe around the neck.

Height : 15 centimetres.

PLATE 38.

PERSIAN ALBARELLO. Found at Sultanabad. Thir- teenth Century. Pale celadon ground, decoration in aubergine and warm blue. The convex body of this vase is covered with twelve upright panels, with alternating scroll designs and inscriptions. There is an inscription border around the neck. The colors of this specimen are most harmonious and they are enhanced by a delicate iridescence.

Height : 25 centimetres.

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PLATE 39.

PERSIAN LUSTRE BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Dated 624 of the Hegira. Gray ground glaze, decoration in blue, brown and green. There isa brown lustre. In the centre of the bowl is a king, with a sorgoudg on his turban. On each side of the throne are smaller female figures, and in the background are scrolls and birds. Above and below the king are basins contain- ing fish. There are two borders of Arabic inscriptions, one on the face of the bowl, and the other, in which is included the date, on the back. This is a rare and important piece of early Persian pottery.

Height : 10 centimetres. Diameter : 20 centimetres.

PLATE 4o.

PERSIAN FLAT BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thir- teenth Century. Cream ground glaze, decoration in brown lustre. This specimen was evidently made as a portrait plaque, for the seated figure which constitutes almost its entire decoration was a royal personage, since he wears the sorgoudg in his turban. His robe too, suggests royalty, and the elaborate chair in which he sits, must have been a throne. The form of this bowl is rare for its time. It is low and flat, and it stands on three small round feet. This piece is signed with the name Omar Aly. | J oo

Height : 5 centimetres. Diameter : 15 centimetres.

PLATE 41.

PERSIAN BOTTLE VASE WITH HANDLE. Found at Sultanabad. Early Thirteenth Century. Cream ground glaze with brown lustre. There is a delicate geometric, diaper pattern covering most of the surface of this vase, which is varied by bands at the top and base of the neck and at the bottom of the bottle. Three of these borders contain floral and geometric motives and one, at the base of the neck, has a beautifully drawn design of running animals. This piece, which is of a very good shape, is somewhat similar both in form and in decoration to the famous dated bottle of the Godman collection.

Height : 24 centimetres.

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PERSIAN LUSTRE BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thir- teenth Century. White ground glaze; decoration in brown yellow lustre. The entire central portion of this bowl is filled by a quaintly-drawn figure of a woman seated tailor fashion and holding a wine cup in her hand. Her robe is dotted and the dark mass of her hair is effectively placed so as to add interest to the design. The background is simpler than in many of the pieces of the same epoch. It is a dark yellow with a tall wine jug and a few blossoms introduced here and there.

Height : & 1/2 centimetres. Diameter : 22 centimetres.

PLATE 43.

PERSIAN LUSTRE BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thir- teenth Century. Cream ground glaze, decoration in light rose copper lustre. The centre has some irregular crackle marks outlined in the lustre. The outside curve of the bowl is decorated with a row of seven medallions, four containing little seated figures and three filled with a foliage ornament. There is a narrow band below the design in blue. The shape and the pro- portions of this bowl are very fine.

Height : 12 centimetres. Diameter : 19 centimetres.

PLATE 44.

PERSIAN FLUTED BOWL. Found at Hamadan. Thir- teenth Century. Light brown lustre on white ground. The fluted rim of this bowl is its distinguishing characteristic, and its peculiar form evidently determined its surface decoration, for each of the convex panals on the outside is used as a setting for a small seated figure. It is worthy of notice that the early Persian artists perferred to depict the personages used in their designs seated, rather than erect, for in this position they could be more successfully made to conform to the curved lines and planes of the potteries. The eight little figures of this bowl are framed in a scroll setting, which is continued and developed into the leaf and scroll design ornamenting the lower section of the piece.

Height : 16 1/2 centimetres. Diameter : 24 centimetres.

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PLATE 45:

TALL PERSIAN PITCHER-VASE. Found at Rhages. Thirteenth Century. Deep lapis-lazuli ground glaze with the decoration in turquoise blue. The treatment of the lower curve of the vase is much the same as that shown in Plate 31, and in this specimen also there is an inscription in beautiful script on the upper curve. The shape of this vase is very fine, the mouth and handle being nicely proportioned. There is a rich iridescence over most of its original glaze.

Height : 25 centimetres. Circumference : 47 centimetres.

PLATE 46.

PERSIAN DEEP BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thir. teenth Century. White ground, decoration in two shades of blue. A very curious, kneeling angel with wings, occupies the inside of this bowl. The head is covered with a sort of helmet hood. The background is a mosaic of lozenge-shaped leaves. Since the figures used by the Sultanabad artists were seldom winged, this bowl is important as demonstrating a very special and rare class of decoration.

Height: 11 centimetres. Diameter : 22 centimetres.

PLATE 47.

LARGE PERSIAN VASE. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. Ivory ground glaze. The decoration of this piece is in relief and consists of a wide band frieze around the centre con- taining flying Birds of Paradise against a foliage background. These birds, with their long and graceful tails, were a favorite motive of decoration with the Sultanabad artists. A simple acanthus design forms the cup.of the vase, and a foliage and inscription border runs around the neck. ‘This vase is so heavily oxidized that if the decoration were not in relief it would be im- possible to distinguish itsforms. The iridescence is exceptionally beautiful, running all the gamut of delicate mother-of-pearl tints.

Height: 31 centimetres. Circumference: 76 centimetres.

PLATE Zé.

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. Characteristic Sultanabad gray ground glaze. The ~ decoration is a large pelican, walking, in the centre of the bowl. The background is covered with small lozenge forms suggesting leaves, in which are introduced also three butterflies, roughly drawn. All of the parts of this design are in slight relief, and ~ outlined with black lines. Though simple in its decoration, this bowl is extremely effective.

Height: ro 1/2 centimetres. Diameter: 20 centimetres.

PLATE 49.

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Cen- tury. Gray ground glaze, raised ornamentation in white, outlined in black. This bowl, both in form and in character, suggests the same epoch, possibly also, the same artist as the specimen in Plate 48. Here the principal motives are two ostriches, admirably depicted. The leaves in the background are a trifle more care- fully indicated, and there are touches of blue introduced in the foliage.

Height: ro 1/2 centimetres. Diameter: 21 centimetres.

PLATE 5o.

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. Gray tan glaze with ornament in white, outlined with dark brown. This little bowl resembles in general character the other gray potteries of its epoch, but it is distinguished by having a standing figure of a man, presumably a personage of importance, in the centre. This individual wears a large turban and has a sort of crude halo about his head. The background is the typical mosaic leaf pattern, the leaves being in relief. This piece is im- portant in this series as showing the range of treatment used by the Sultanabad artists.

Height: 11 centimetres. Diameter: 21 centimetres.

PLATE. 351i:

PERSIAN DEEP BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Dated 668 of the Hegira. Cream ground glaze, decoration in olive tan. There is a large, spirited, running zebra in the centre of this bowl. The background is a leaf and mosaic pattern, and below the feet of the zebra is a fish. On the upper, inside edge is a border inscription, containing the date 668—1290 a.D. This is an effective and very important example of its class.

Height: 10 1/2 centimetres. Diameter: 18 centimetres.

PLATE 34

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Cen- tury. Cream white ground, decoration in rich, gold, brown lustre. There is a large, running deer in the centre, against a foliage and tree background. A basin with a fish is at the bottom of this composition, and the scale of all the objects which figure in it is so large that the effect is striking. There are small panels on the upper edge of this bowl, and a series of leaf motives on the outside.

Height: ro centimetres. Diameter: 18 centimetres.

PLATE. 53.

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Cen- tury. The decoration is in brown lustre and in the two blues, with touches of brown on an ivory ground. The centre of the bowl is filled by a medallion containing fifteen fishes, simply ‘drawn against a fine mosaic background. Surrounding this ‘medallion is a border of Arabic writing, and the sloping sides of ‘the bowl are divided into six panels separated by bands of inscrip- tions. Three of the panels contain seated figures and three ~ animals, which are beautifully drawn. This piece is especially interesting because of the variety of decorative motives employed in its composition. —

Height: 13 centimetres. Diameter: 28 1/2 centimetres.

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PLATE 54:

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Cen- tury. White ground glaze, black and blue decoration. This is an exceptionally interesting specimen, because of the beast which forms the principal figure in the decoration. It is a spirited lion with a human head. The foliage background, too, is treated ina manner somewhat unusual in the Sultanabad potteries. The fish, which appears frequently in these animal compositions, is seen at the feet of the lion.

Height: 9 1/2 centimetres. Diameter: 21 1/2 centimetres.

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PLATE 55.

PERSIAN PLATE. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. Cream glaze, decoration in blue, green, and aubergine, the latter color predominating. The animal in this plate is a lion, the lines of his body and the expression of his face being probably as fierce as these inspired Persian Primitives knew how to make them. The background is in close leaf and line mosaic.

Diameter: 22 centimetres.

PALTE 56.

PERSIAN DEEP BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. White clear ground glaze. Decoration in two blues and black. The animal ornament of this piece is a leopard, his marks ingeniously indicated by black scrolls, a childlike but effective device. The animal is half-lost in the foliage background. There is a foliage border edged with black, and a mottled out- side surface decoration. “

Diameter: 21 centimetres.

PLATE 57.

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Cen- tury. White ground glaze; decoration in the two blues, the leaf mosaic being slightly in relief and outlined in black. A quaint feature of this piece is the introduction into the ornament of four elephants’ heads, so expressed as to give the idea that they are emerging from the foliage. There is a blossom motive in the centre. The bowl is slightly oxidized.

Height: 10 1/2 centimetres. Diameter: 22 1/2 centimetres.

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PLATE 58.

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Cen- tury. Pinkish gray ground, with raised decoration in white, out- lined in black. There is a leaf mosaic covering all the interior section, and scattered over this background are innumerable little fishes, their tails curved gracefully over their bodies. Though fish often appear in the Sultanabad potteries as accessories of a composition, they are seldom used as individual items in the deco- rative scheme. Hence the special claim of this specimen as representative of a rare style.

Height: 11 centimetres. Diameter: 22 centimetres.

PLATE 59.

PERSIAN PLATE OR LOW BOWL. Found at Sul- tanabad. Thirteenth Century. Cream ground glaze; decoration in blue and olive lustre. There isa small, delicately drawn rabbit in the centre, and a series of four circular bands, in each of which is a different set of motives. Surrounding the rabbit medallion is a scroll border. On the curve of the plate is a wider band containing leaf medallions, and on the sides of the bowl are narrow upright panels alternating in treatment. On the flat edge of the plate is an inscription in Arabic.

Height : 6 centimetres. Diameter : 23 centimetres.

PLATE 6o.

PERSIAN TILE. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. This tile is of a beautiful brown lustre with copper and old rose tints. The decoration consists of a central panel showing a deer and hound, against a graceful foliage background. Possibly this panel was one of a hunt series. The animals are in relief and are splendidly drawn. There are inscription borders at the top and the base.

Height : 21 centimetres. Width : 26 centimetres.

PLATE 61.

PERSIAN VASE. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. Warm gray ground glaze, a tone which is seen only in the potteries of Sultanabad. The decoration is in relief, the forms in white, outlined in brown. A gracefully drawn animal frieze covers the centre of the vase and graduated foliage borders finish the top. A small portion of the neck and the handle are missing. The vase is heavily and very beautifully oxidized. This is a lovely example of the Sultanabad relief potteries. |

Height : 24 centimetres. Circumference : 52 centimetres.

PALTE 62.

PERSIAN PLATE. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. Cream white ground, with the surface designs in two blues and the ground color, outlined in black. The animal of this plate is a fox, lying down in the midst of a nest of foliage. There are three band borders each with a differently treated leaf mosaic. Sultanabad plates, especially whole ones, are rare, and consequently this is an important example of this class of pottery.

Diameter : 24 centimetres.

PLATE 63.

LARGE PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thir- teenth Century. Gray white ground, decoration in three tones of blue, with black outlines. There is a wonderfully drawn panther in the medallion centre. The Sultanabad artists seem to have understood better than any potters, of any time, how, graphically to express living animals with the fewest conceivable details. Each of their animal bowls is a lesson in the elimination of useless lines. The slope of this bowl is divided into panels having a mosaic leaf decoration, the panels being separated by torches. The outside, which is slightly oxidized, has a mottled _ blue and black treatment.

_ Height : 14.1/2 centimetres. Diameter ; 27 1/2 centimetres.

PLATE 64.

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. Warm gray ground glaze. There is no color used in this piece, but the decoration is in the ground color, slightly in relief and outlined in black. In the centre is a running rabbit, surrounded by foliage. In the border are four flying birds of Paradise, their long tails extended. There is an inscription on

the outside upper edge of this bowl.

Height.: 14 1/2 centimetres. Diameter : 20 centimetres.

PLATE 65.

PERSIAN LARGE BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thir- teenth Century. Cream white ground glaze, decoration in two blues and the ground color, outlined in black. There is an attempt at realism in this piece, for the circular centre bears a sort of pictoral composition in which are depicted two running deers, one of them just entering the picture. The leaf background is delicately put in and the same motive, together with medallion leaves, fills the outer border, which is so spaced as to make eight panels, four wide and four narrow. This bowl has a beautiful iridescence in mother of pearl tones.

Height : 14 centimetres. Diameter : 25 centimetres.

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PLATE 66.

PERSIAN ANIMAL BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. Pale gray ground glaze, with intricate over decoration in the full play of rich blues, the lapis-lazuli being exceptionally clear and the turquoise brilliant. This bowl lacks the customary medallion in the centre. It has instead, eight segments, forming triangular panels, in four of which are gracefully drawn panthers, their tails terminating in the centre. The four other panels have the Sultanabad raised leaf mosaic. There is an inscription border on the outside. The bowl is spotted with iridescence in places. This is one of the most consistently beautiful bowls in this series of Animal potteries.

Height : 13 centimetres. Diameter : 26 centimetres.

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PLATE. 67.

LARGE PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Twelfth or Thirteenth Century. Gray ground glaze. The decoration on this bowl, and on the others of the same character, is very well distributed both as to its decorative placing and its color values. The medallion in the centre covers the flat base of the bowl. In this instance, it contains a seated figure of a prince or king against the favorite Sultanabad background of leaf mosaic. The sloping sides of the bowl, which frame this central picture, are treated as a border with a motive of alternating leaf mosaic and leaf medal- lions. The colors are lapis-lazuli and turquoise and all the details of the decoration are outlined with black.

Height : 14 centimetres. Diameter : 3o centimetres.

PLATE. 68.

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. Warm gray ground glaze. Decoration in white, with black outlines. The ornamentation, as is common in many Sultanabad potteries, is slightly in relief. There is a little figure in the centre most gracefully conceived and almost Botticelli-like in its lines. The background is the usual leaf mosaic. The band border on the sides of the bowl is composed of flying birds and leaf medallions.

Height : 11 centimetres. Diameter : 23 centimetres.

PLATE 69.

PERSIAN. PLATE. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. Greenish-white ground glaze, decoration in two blues and gray with a black outline. This plate was unmistakably intended as a pictoral composition. In the central medallion is a seated personage wearing the Tartar costume. He may have been Djenguis Khan, who ruled in Persia at the time of this plate’s production. The Tartar is represented as holding an amicable conversation with a Persian, possibly a Sultan. The background is a leaf mosaic, there is a leaf border, and five leaf mosaic panels decorate the outer portion of this plate. There is an oxidization on the outside which extends also over the inside edge. Few of the Sultanabad potteries have so markedly an illustrative intention.

Height : 7 centimetres. Diameter : 22 centimetres.

PLATE 7o.

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. Turquoise Blue ground glaze, decoration in black. The surface ornament used in this bowl is extremely delicate, an excellent rosette motive, springing from a flat blossom in the centre. Leaves and tendrils are knowingly intertwined and the massing of color is produced in the leaves by the circular and scalloped repeats which served these potters in place of a flat tint. The outside of the bowl is slightly corrugated, the indentations defined by an open black acanthus pattern.

Height : 10 1/2 centimetres. Diameter : 22 centimetres.

PALTE 71.

PERSIAN BOTTLE. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. Light tan ground glaze, beautifully oxidized. There is no attempt in this specimen at a surface ornament. It depends for its singularity on its peculiar form. The body of the vase is covered with four rows of raised medallions, or lozenge shapes. This is an exceptional example among the Sultanabad potteries. The top has been repaired in bronze.

Height : 25 centimetres.

PLATE 72.

PERSIAN BOWL. Found at Sultanabad. Dated 667 of the Hegira, 1299 a.p. Ground glaze of a rich, warm turquoise, beautifully oxidized with a silver iridescence. There is no deco- ration on this bowl except an inscription border on the upper edge in Arabic, in which is found the date. The border is in relief, and a small portion only is missing. This piece is of great beauty and importance.

Height : 10 centimetres. Diameter : 21 centimetres.

PLATE 73.

PERSIAN BOTTLE VASE WITH HANDLE. Found at Sultanabad. Thirteenth Century. Turquoise Blue ground glaze with the applied ornament in black. The shape of this piece is very fine, and its general aspect remarkably gracious. A band scroll follows the curve, black stripes break the lower spaces, and there is a band of Arabic inscription at the neck. The surface is partially covered with iridescence.

Height : 35 centimetres.

PLATE 74.

PERSIAN BOTTLE VASE. Found at Sultanabad. Thir- teenth Century. The ground glaze is pale green, the decoration in lapis-lazuli blue and turquoise, outlined in black. The form of this jug is a trifle squat, but with a certain elegance. It has a small neck and a short handle. It is particulary interesting because it shows the use of the leaf mosaic, seen in the Sultana- bad bowls, applied here in a somewhat different fashion. The leaves fill four panels, which are edged above and below with a wreath border and with the Persian interpretation of the acanthus motive. The vase has a fine iridescence.

Height : 21 centimetres. Circumference : 12 centimetres.

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PLATE 75.

PERSIAN LUSTRE BOWL. Found at Rhages. Thir- teenth Century. The ground is white, the ornaments, brown and the stripes blue. The entire inside of this bowl is divided into twelve segments, with alternating geometric motives, taper- ing toward the centre. Since this bowl lacks the customary central medallion, it is a useful addition to a collection of

early potteries.

Height : 11 centimetres. Diameter : 21 1/2 centimetres.

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PLATE 76.

PERSIAN VASE-JUG, WITH HANDLE. Found at Rhages. Thirteenth Century. Turquoise Blue ground glaze. The only decoration on this charming little jug, is a series of tapering black stripes, narrow at the neck and base, and wider on the bulge of the form. This piece is prettily oxidized.

Height : 11 centimetres. Diameter : 10 centimetres.

PLATE 77.

PERSIAN FLAT VASE. Found at Sultanabad. Thir- teenth Century. Warm tan ground glaze with decoration in brown, and blue bands. The outside of this vase is treated as two parts. The upper one is covered with a scroll leaf frieze, the lower one with alternating scroll panels. On the inside is a showy medallion flanked by floral buds. This is one of the few early Sultanabad bowls in which the outside and inside decora- tion are given equal importance. It is interesting because of its rare form and the generally fine ornamentation.

Diameter of mouth : 14 centimetres.

PLATE 78.

PERSIAN BOTTLE VASE. Found at Daghestan. Thir- teenth Century. Cream white ground glaze, decoration in cobalt blue and copper lustre. The body of the vase is divided into a series of upright panels, four of which contain quaintly drawn birds, and four, bold scrolls. The color of the birds is the ground glaze, against a setting of applied color. The scrolls are lustre on blue. A rich and striking early Persian piece. It was this style of pottery which was later imitated in Italy in the Seculo-Arab metallic lustres.

Height : 15 centimetres. Circumference : 50 centimetres.

PLATE 79.

LARGE PERSIAN VASE. Found at Teheran. Late Thir- teenth Century. Blue ground glaze. The body of this vase is quite spherical, the surface being divided into a series of eight segments, forming perpendicular panels. The decoration in the panels alternates, one set of ornament being bold and open, and the other made up of smaller leaf forms. This vase has a lustre glaze, and it is partly covered with iridescence. The top is missing and has been repaired in bronze.

Height : 24 centimetres. Circumference : 64 centimetres.

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PALTE So.

BAGDAD VASE. Found at Bagdad. Fourteenth Century. The ground glaze of this specimen is in olive and rose, with little or no surface decoration. A suggestion of perpendicular lines is visible through the heavy iridescence w~ich time has given to the vase. The color effects thus produced are beautiful to a degree and the combination of.original and accidental colorings makes this piece one of the most pleasing of the potteries from the East.

Height: 21 centimetres. Circumference: 56 centimetres.

PLATE S81.

PERSIAN PLATE. Found at Koubatcha in Daghestan. Dated 873 of the Hegira. This is one of a set of very fine tur- quoise plates unearthed at the village of Koubatcha. It is Persian in color and in decoration, and there can be no doubt that it was made by a Persian artist. The ground glaze is a lovely turquoise, and the decoration, a sort of five-petalled blossom with scrolls in. the petals, is picked out in deep blue. The background of the centre of the plate is deep blue, as is also the border on the out- side edge. The border inscription on the light ground of the curve contains the date. This is an important specimen in its class, since it fixes the date of production of all the turquoise and polychrome potteries found at Koubatcha.

Height: 9 centimetres. Diameter: 36 centimetres.

PLATE 82.

PERSIAN DEEP TURQUOISE PLATE. Found at Kou- batcha. Fifteenth Century. Clear deep turquoise ground glaze which is used as the color plane of the decoration. An applied background of deeper blue covers the under glaze. The form of the decorative motives is circular, and there is a thread fret border on the flat rim. The massing of color values in this specimen is

especially happy.

Diameter: 34 centimetres.

PLATE 83.

PERSIAN TURQUOISE PLATE. Found at Koubatcha. Fifteenth Century. Deep, apple-green turquoise ground glaze, decoration in black of a singularly rich quality. The design con- sists of a swan and flowering sprays. The black border has a diamond motive repeated around the plate. The edge is finished with a scroll form, a peculiarity of shape in the Koubatcha pot- teries. In character this plate suggests the dated blue plate _ reproduced as No. ie and it was probably of about the same —

Diameter : 23 centimetres.

PLATE 84.

PERSIAN POLYCHROME PLATE. Found at Koubatcha. Fifteenth Century. Warm, ivory ground; decoration in the full play of colors, peculiar to the Koubatcha artists, green-blue and old yellow of harmonious tints. There is a large portrait head in the centre of this plate, a royal personage wearing a plumed sorgoudg in his striped turban and a handsome flowered robe. ’ There is a simple shell pattern in four flat panels along the outer edge, alternating with a running inscription in Persian characters. The inscription resembles that of the dated plate shown in No. 81.

Diameter: 34 centimetres.

PLATE 85.

PERSIAN PORTRAIT PLATE. Found at Koubatcha. Fifteenth Century. Deep old ivory ground, decorated in poly- chrome. The portrait in this instance is that of a woman, wear- ing a high striped turban, and a low-necked robe, showing a suggestion of a latticed chaim below. ‘The favorite floral motive of the Koubatcha potters was a sort of flowing bush with leaves and flowers, which always springs from one ‘side of the plate, a character of composition later imitated and perfected by the Rhodian potters. Many of the smaller palm and floral figures of the Rhodian and Damascus workers can also be traced to these earlier potteries. |

Diameter: 35 centimetres.

PALTE 806.

PERSIAN ANIMAL PLATE. Found at Koubatcha. Fifteenth Century. Old ivory ground glaze, decoration in poly- chrome. In this example of the later potteries there is an attempt at animal decoration, more harmonious in color, but less con- vincing in drawing than are those of the Sultanabad potteries. There is a large beast in the centre of the plate in blue, vaguely drawn, with flames emanating from his body, possibly depicting a sacrificial offering, The background is foliage, and the border is a sort of overlapping shell motive.

Diameter: 32 centimetres.

PLATE 87.

PERSIAN LUSTRE BOTTLE. Found at Teheran. Fifteenth Century. Deep old ivory ground. The bottle is deco- rated with four panels, two wide and two narrow, the wide panels having scroll motives in brown lustre on a light background, the narrow panels having a bolder pattern on a dark ground. Blue stripes separate the panels. ‘The metallic lustre on this specimen is of a remarkable range of rainbow tints. It was probably pro- duced at the very best period of lustre pottery making in Persia, during the Fifteenth Century when the early metallic lustres were revived, copied and technically perfected.

Height: 11 1/2 centimetres.

PLATE 8&8.

PERSIAN LUSTRE PLATE. Foundat Tebriz. Sixteenth Century. Clear white ground glaze, decoration in brown lustre of marvellous reflections, ranging from amber to deep rose. The design, in the rich brown, is strong and showy. It represents branches of palm and locust, treated with the utmost freedom and swing of line. As an example of the late Persian lustres, this _ plate hardly has an equal.

Diameter: 23 centimetres.

PLATE 89.

PERSIAN BOTTLE. Found at Teheran. Sixteenth Cen- tury. White ground glaze, with ruby lustre over-glaze, of rarely lovely tints. Stripe panels with alternating white and ruby grounds, leaf and tendril ornaments. There are touches of a rich canary yellow in the leaves, and turquoise blue stripes separating the panels. The ruby lustre Persian bottles are rare, and this one is extraordinary in this class, because of its play of metallic rainbow colors. The top is repaired in bronze with a cover attached by a chain.

Height with cover: 27 centimetres.

PLATE go.

PERSIAN LUSTRE BOTTLE. Found at Tebriz. Sixteenth Century. Clear white ground glaze, decoration in extremely rich and handsome brown lustre of gold, amber, ruby and violet tints. The surface is covered with a full and abundant decora- tion representing a sort of landscape in which are seen two palm, two pine trees and a deer running downa hill. The technique of this specimen is flawless, and it epitomizes the most perfect lustre effects ever produced.

Height: 27 1/2 centimetres.

PLATE 91.

SMALL PERSIAN LUSTRE BOWL. Found at Diarbekir. Sixteenth Century. White ground glaze, forming the background of the decoration on the inner surface.. The applied ornament is in a warm ruby and violet lustre. In the central space is a cypress tree with a pomegranate tree behind it. The scroll border, on the flat rim, is in the white ground on a band of the darker lustre tint. The under side of this bowl is a rich lapis-lazuli blue with a lustre decoration of two floral bands. Itis signed. The scheme of reversing the grounds on the outer and inner sections of the bowls was peculiar to the Persian lustres. This specimen, though small, is charming and dainty and well represents its special category. |

Height: 5 centimetres. Diameter: 14 centimetres.

PLAFE - 92:

TALL PERSIAN LUSTRE BOTTLE. Found at Teheran. Sixteenth Century. Rich blue ground glaze, rose, copper, metallic reflections. This bottle is of very graceful form, and the decora- tion is applied with a fine appreciation of proper spacing. The motives are the leaf and scroll shapes seen in the carpets of the same epoch, with birds and palm branches. There is much more variety in the character of the designs employed in the pottery of this period than in the earlier Persian products. The composi- tion too is finer, and this specimen has a delicate glaze which gives much the effect of porcelain.

Height: 2S centimetres. Circumference: 45 centimetres.

- greener and less clear than that of the earlier Sultanabad pro-

PLATE 93.

: PERSIAN PLATE. Found at Keshan. Sixteenth Century. — . Olive gray ground glaze; decoration slightly in relief, having the effect of gesso. The gray of these later Persian potteries was

ducts. The ornament too, is less effective, though much more sophisticated. In this example, which is large, the motives are those of the carpets and rugs of the same period. The curved rim of the plate is fluted. | |

Diameter: 44 centimetres.

PALTE 94.

PERSIAN MOSQUE GLOBE. Found at Teheran. Sixteenth Century. Mauve ground glaze. Persian floral medallion motives in blue, olive and aubergine. This specimen antedates the Rhodian potteries, and it is especially interesting as indicating a tendency toward polychrome decoration, which later found its expression in the Rhodian and Damascus polychrome potteries.

Height: 21 centimetres. Circumference: 60 centimetres.

PLATE 95.

DAMASCUS PLATE: Found at Damascus. Sixteenth Century. Clear white ground glaze, decoration in polychrome in the characteristic Damascus range of colors, mauves, two blues and green. This plate has the free branch motives usual in these potteries, with large graceful tulips intermingled in the design. A special feature is a large medallion placed in the centre of the plate and covering a part of the floral design. There is a shell mosaic border on the outer rim.

Diameter: 36 centimetres.

PLATE 96.

DAMASCUS PLATE. Found at Damascus. Sixteenth Cen- tury. White under glaze, seen only on the reverse of the plate. The front is entirely covered with a deep lapis-lazuli ground, on which the decoration is defined in typical Damascus colors. The ornament is a cluster of delicate sprays, springing from the rim of the plate, and ending in flat little blossoms. The colors are mauve, green and pale blue. The border on the rim is dainty and consists of a repeat of three little tulips and a blossom. Single flowers ornament the back.

Diameter: 37 centimetres.

PLATE 97.

LARGE DAMASCUS PLATE. Found at Damascus. Six- teenth Century. Deep lapis-lazuli ground, with decoration in blue of the mauve tint peculiar to the Damascus kilns. The graceful tulip design which fills the centre of this plate is a happy example of the flow of line of which the Damascus artists were masters. A border of small motives skirts the edge of the plate. The beauty of both the color and the design in this piece makes it a splendid example of its class.

Diameter: 37 centimetres.

PLATE 98.

RHODIAN BOTTLE OF REMARKABLE SIZE. From the Elton Collection. Sixteenth Century. White ground glaze, appearing as the body color of the decorative motives, which are picked out with dark blue outlines against a strong turquoise ground. The large spherical bowl of this vase is a mosaic of many animals, large and small, some of them treated naturalistic- ally and some imaginatively. There are repeats separating these beasts, suggesting small fragments of coral. They are of coral red, and slightly in relief. The long neck of this specimen is of incised bronze, the workmanship and the intricate design, being of the same epoch as the pottery. In the style of its decorative motives, this piece is absolutely unique.

Height of pottery: 26 centimetres. With neck: 48 centimetres.

Circumference: 74 centimetres.

PLATE 99.

RHODIAN MOSQUE GLOBE. From a mosque at Broussa. Sixteenth Century, This piece is very handsome and effective and it is the largest known globe of this character. The ground glaze is a clear white, undecorated on the lower hemisphere of the globe. The upper part is a gorgeously effective Rhodian design, of scrolls and leaf medallions growing gracefully from a rosette in the centre of the top. The flowers appear in the under glaze, in vivid green with the raised red accents peculiar to this class of potteries, The background of this splendid decoration 1s a vibrating lapis-lazuli blue of lovely tone.

Height: 27 centimetres. Circumference: g5 centimetres.

PLATE 100.

DAMASCUS BOTTLE. Found at Damascus. Sixteenth Century. White clear ground, only visible on the base and in one of the decorative motives, which appears as a regular repeat on the blue and black egg-shell surface of the bottle. This small leaf motive alternates with a medallion leaf motive. There are three blues used in the design, deep and light lapis-lazuli, and a greenish turquoise. The neck of this specimen is tall and slender and its length is diminished by a wide relief band in pale blue. This is a large and very excellent example of Damascus decoration.

Height: 34 centimetres. Circumference: 56 centimetres.

PLATE rot.

TALL DAMASCUS BOTTLE. Found at Broussa. Sixteenth Century. Blue mauve ground glaze. The decoration, which | entirely covers the ground on this bottle, is a repeat pattern of dainty lines, a blossom combined with the favorite Damascus tulip. The flower is in bright-blue outlined in black, and the tulip and leaves are white. Both in its colors and in its decorative treat- ment this piece admirably exemplifies the Damascus pottery traits.

Height: 29 centimetres.

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PALTE 102.

DAMASCUS BLUE AND WHITE JAR. Found at Da- mascus. Sixteenth Century. Clear white ground, the ornament in deep, lapis-lazuli blue. The entire jar is covered with bands of decoration, most of the motives being the late Persian leaf and scroll patterns. There is a tendency in the later Persian potteries toward overcrowding the pottery surfaces with a mass of intricate detail, hence they lack the impressiveness of the earlier works. This jar, however, is handsome, and excellent of its class.

Height: 27 centimetres. Circumference: 75 centimetres.

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PLATE 103.

RHODIAN JUG WITH HANDLE. Found at Constanti- nople. Sixteenth Century. Ground glaze clear white. The entire surface of this jug is ‘covered with the fish-scale ornament which the Rhodian artists employed with telling effect. The leaf motives are graceful, and the bands on the neck and at the base of the jug are also Rhodian in character. The colors are rich and applied pure, as was the custom with these potteries. The greens, corals and deep blues are striking and most effective on the cold white ground. For purposes of demonstrating the peculiarities of the Rhodian wares, this piece is faultless.

Height: 18 centimetres. Circumference: 43 centimetres.

PLATE 104.

RHODIAN BOTTLE. Found at Salonica. Sixteenth Cen- tury. Clear white ground, decoration in the characteristic Rhodian colors, blue, red, and grecn, with the red notes in relief. The motives of decoration present certain peculiarities seldom seen in these potteries. There is a fish-sca'e ornament enclosed in our large medallions and, following the curves of these motives, are delicate and graceful, flowering wreaths. This piece has an indented spout, and it lacks its handle.

Height: 29 centimetres. Circumference: 57 centimetres.

PLATE 105.

KUTAHIA BOTTLE FLASK. Found at Aleppo. Sixtenth Century. Clear white ground glaze, decoration in polychrome, blue, green, red and yellow. The flattened sides of this flask are divided into a series of circular bands, the ornament following the form of the space which it fills. All the motives are floral and of the delicate, crisp drawing peculiar to this class of Persian pot- tery. There is a beautifully designed silver and gilt mouth of the period. ‘This is a handsome example of the later Persian wares.

Height: 33 centimetres. Width: 29 centimetres.

PLATE 106.

KUYTAHIA SAUCER. Found at Aleppo. Dated 1719. Clear smooth ground glaze. The only decoration is a figure of the Armenian Saint Sergius on horseback depicted in the act of carrying off the Greek woman. The saint wears a halo and carries a mitre. The captive holds a standard with the Greek cross on the end. The saucer has a border of the clear Kutahia canary yellow on which is the name of the saint and the date in black Armenian characters. The saint wears a deep blue robe with a green mantle, and the captive is clothed in turquoise blue. The trappings of the horse are blue, green and yellow. The horse gallops over a field, dotted with red and blue flowers. There is a blue late-Persian floral border on the reverse of this piece and it is signed on the back with the producer’s name. It is altogether an exceptional example of the Kutahia potteries.

Diameter: 15 centimetres.

PLATE rez.

KUTAHIA MUG. Found at Aleppo. Dated 1787. White, clear, smooth ground glaze. The form of this piece determines its ornamentation. It is not circular, but its sides are cut into six semi-cylindrical panels ; in the centre of each is a triangular diamond shaped medallion with a Greek cross surrounded by cir- cular perforations. Flowering branches frame these motives, and the interior of the mug is likewise ornamented with floral motives. The Greek cross appears again in the inside panels in black. The colors in this specimen are clear, and they swing through the tints of green, yellow and coral red, familiar in the Kutahia potteries. Around the upper rim are an inscriptionin black Armenian charac- ters and the date, which places the time of production of the Kutahia wares.

Height: 8 centimetres. Diameter: 12 centimetres.

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PLATE 108.

ITALIAN PLATE BOWL. Found at Orvieto, near Rome. Fourteenth Century. Greenish white ground glaze ; decoration in turquoise blue and dark brown. A large running deer occupies the centre of the plate, and against the lattice background are three leaf ornaments. The whole effect of this piece suggests an attempt on the part of the artists to copy the Persian style of pot- tery decoration. The deer is Persian in pose and line and the leaves are placed as they are often seen in Persian potteries. There is no room to doubt that this piece of pottery was a conscious or unconscious copy of the Persian work of the Thirteenth Century.

Height: 7 centimetres. - Diameter: 24 centimetres.

PLATE 109.

ITALIAN FLOWER JAR. Style Rhodian, made at Caffa- giolo. Sixteenth Century. From the Lanna Sale. Ground clear white, ornament in characteristic Rhodian colors, raised reddish flowers, branches in blue. The upper portion of the vase is punctured with circular holes. All the motives used in the de- coration of this jar can be seen in the potteries usually classified as Rhodian. This specimen, however was made in Italy. It is one of three of the same sort which bear the fabrication mark of the Italian works. One is owned by Charles Reed, and one is in the British Museum.

Height: 14 centimetres.

PALTE r11o.

DAMASCUS PITCHER MADE IN ITALY. From the Spitzer Sale. Sixteenth Century. Clear, white, smooth ground, covered with thread scrolls and small, delicate leaves and blossoms. The decoration on this pitcher isa favorite Damascus motive and itis in the deep blue of the Damascus pottery. The shape of this specimen is unusual and the material of which it is composed is harder than that used by the Damascus potters. Asan example of the Persian influence in Italy, this piece is enlightening.

Height with cover: 25 centimetres.

PLATE 111.

LARGE PERSIAN VASE. Found at Sultanabad. Twelfth Century. Deep blue glaze of rich lapis-lazuli tones, decoration in relief. This specimen, which is intact, is the largest and finest example of Persian relief decoration in existence. Around the body is a wide frieze in high relief, depicting probably a hunt, since the animals are wild boars and gazelles. The background is the foliage scroll which served the Persian, as a conventionali- zation of a forest. The Persian acanthus motive covers the base and neck of the vase and an inscription border is written in the characters which were used during the transition period between the use of Cuffic and Arabic in Persia. This vase has a beautiful iridescence. It is worthy of remark that only isolated examples of pottery have been found elsewhere in Persia, than at the three principal diggings at Rakka, Rhages and Sultanabad. Since all three of these places have given up a quantity of potteries of a variety of workmanship, it is reasonable to suppose that they were the artistic centres of Arabia and of Persia during the Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries. Nothing finer has come from any of the excavations than the vase shown here.

Height: 62 centimetres. Circumference: 134 centimetres. - |

PLATE 112.

VASE, Sassanian or later. Found at Sultanabad. Eleventh- Twelfth Century. Transparent, turquoise glaze with a line of lapis-lazuli glaze round the rim and occasional splashes of same on body and interior. Silver iridiscence. Base unglazed. Pale buff paste.

The shoulder of the vase bears a relief-frieze composed of six superbly decorative sphinxes. The quality of the relief and spacing of the design, notably of the wings and tails. betray a master-hand. Running round the vase at its greatest width is a band in chevron-pattern. This band is entirely Sassanian in feeling and strongly reminiscent of the well-known, unglazed vase of that period at the Bibliotheque Nationale (Paris), the Sassa-

nian origin of which has been definitely proved by existing cuneiform tablets.

For lack of precedent, we are at a loss to know whether to ascribe the present vase to the Sassanian or a subsequent period. Sultanabad having been in turn the headquarters of the Sassa- nian, Parthian and Persian peoples, we are confronted by a further difficulty with regard to the date of its production. Indeed for the time being it belongs to a category of its own, by reason, as much of its technical attributes, as of its absolutely unique artistic quality. Unfortunately this plate, similar to most of the other plates contained in this publication, in no way does justice to the magnificence of the original. Photography is still, alas, an entirely inadaquate medium of expression.

Height: 36 centimetres. Circumference: 109 centimetres.

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