Large bowl, Aghkand sgraffiato, red earthenware, coated with a white ground slip into which the decorative design was incised and then painted in green, yellow and manganese-purple. The rounded and widely opening low walls terminate in everted flat rim. In the centre there is brownish-yellow painted standing gazelle over green scrollwork within a green framed band formed medallion; several large painted roundels decorate the cavetto, followed by a green band below the rim; the rim is decorated by series of alternately green and yellow painted triangles and in-between manganese-purple dots. Iran, Aghkand, 12th century.
Ht. 10.5cm; Top diam. 29cm; Base diam. 5.5cm.

Research by the late Prof Géza Fehérvári
Professor of Islamic Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

Additional research by Dr Geoffrey King
Emeritus Reader in Islamic Art, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London