Calligraphy cup with birds

Calligraphy cup with birds

Iran, Nishapur, 10th-11th century

Of shallow rounded form on a short foot with flared rim, decorated underglaze in yellow, green and manganese on a cream ground with four birds interspersed with abstract plant motifs, and kufic lettering, the exterior adorned with stylized palmettes. (Broken, glued, restorations). 6.5 x 18.5 cm. Nishapur, a Sassanid imperial city, was a major ceramics production center. The animated decoration on this bowl features birds and angular writing (perhaps the word baraka, blessing). A very similarly decorated bowl is in the Brooklyn Museum, inv. no. 86.227.3. Provenance : Private collection, Paris. A bowl with a calligraphic pattern and bird motifs, Iran, Nishapur, 10th-11th century