Near East, Persia (Iran), Nishapur area, ca. late 10th century to early 13th century CE. A pottery oil lamp in the distinctive Nishapur style, glazed in a beautiful, iridescent blue-green. The pinched top bowl, with its narrow spout for a wick, sits atop a long, thin neck over a lower bowl with a slightly raised rim. A thin, strap handle descends from top to bottom. The body of this lamp and others of its style is made of finely ground quartz mixed with clay; this created a white surface on which the artists could paint designs directly. The glaze is alkaline, with a copper base to give it its color, and would be poured over the clay. These pieces may have been inspired by the blue and white glazed pottery that travelled the Silk Road from Tang Dynasty China, but the end result here is clearly not an imitation, but an entirely different, radical style developed in Nishapur. Size: 3.05" W x 3.05" H (7.7 cm x 7.7 cm)
Provenance: ex-private Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA collection, acquired from Goldberg Auctions, Los Angeles, California, USA in 1968
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#142646
Condition
Handle and lower half of leg have both been restored from modern clay and paint. This is well done and difficult to see without close examination. Small loss from lower part of basin at foot. Nice iridescent patina on the original paint on the basin and upper part of the vessel.