19th C. Indian Mughal Multan Pottery Vase

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Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Jun 4, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-06-04 10:00:00 2020-06-04 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-5185
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• Lot Description
  South Asia, India, southern Punjab, Multan district, ca. 19th century CE. An outstanding glazed ceramic vessel presenting traditional decorative leaf-like motifs adorning the neck, mouth, handles, and tiered base but the true stars of the vase are the wrestling animals rendered in the round at the center. The body of the vessel features two well-modeled wild felines with an openwork passage between their legs, the one on top pinning the other who is on his back. Above them is a cylindrical neck rising to a cup-shaped mouth and twin loop handles joining the vase's neck to the prone lion. Below the animals is a tiered foot. Traditional Multan Blue Pottery features Persian-inspired foliage/floral motifs delineated in blue and white glaze like this example; however, this vessel also presents innovations such as the inclusion of yellow glaze as well as the depiction of beautifully rendered animals. A piece of glazed pottery exhibiting this level of skill and artistry is known as kagazi, and was made by an artist potter known as a kusagar (kashigars). Size: 7.1" in diameter x 8.7" H (18 cm x 22.1 cm)
  
  This class of pottery is sometimes referred to as Blue Pottery and also known as Kaashi Gari. It was introduced centuries ago in Multan by regional artisans who came with Arab conquered Muhammad Bin Qasim. Alexander Cunningham, a British army archaeologist was named archaeological surveyor of the subcontinent in 1861. When he visited Multan in 1863, he found glazed tiles from Qillah Kohna Qasim Bagh and claimed these tiles were made in 900 CE. This discovery suggested that the tiles were used in a mosque erected in the Mohammed Bin Qasim era following his arrival in Multan. Later scholars deemed that this artform was rooted in Kashan city of Persia and Kashgar city of China. Hence, the artist potter became known as a Kashigar and the artform is called Kashigari. The inclusion of leaves, trees, and branches as well as the use of rich cobalt blue hues also demonstrates this Persian influence. Over time, Multan artisans made marvelous innovations in form, function, and decoration, though adhering to the primary palette or blue and white. In this example, the artist has also included yellow and the stars of the vessel are the two animals delineated in the round.
  
  Provenance: private California, USA collection, purchased from private collection in the 1980s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
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  #155836

  Condition

  Intact, with light deposits on surface and rich patina. Very light wear commensurate with age. Underside of foot has some remains of adhesive.
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