MUZZAFARID FARS, SOUTH IRAN, 14TH CENTURY

The layout of the present bowl, with its sequence of figural roundels alternating with oval panels containing elongated thuluth honorific inscriptions is very similar to that of a large number of bowls made in 14th century Fars. Examples are in most major collections including an excellent example in the British Museum (Ward, 1993, no.76, p.99), while others have been sold in the Rooms, including 5 October 2010, lot 173. What makes this specific bowl stand out is the size, which is half that of almost all other examples. It is an exquisite miniature version of the well-known type, which retains considerable proportions of its silver and gold inlay.

For further information and similar examples, see Melikian-Chirvani, 1982, pp.209-214.