* Coupe samanide épigraphique Lot n° 1

Central Asia, Nishapur, 10th century Ceramic truncated cone with siliceous paste, beige slip and manganese paint. The inner walls are covered with kufic inscriptions converging on the central point of the base. Size: 9 x 26.5 cm Condition: Broken, glued, no significant blocking. Provenance : Public sale, British market. This lot is sold as a temporary import. Inscriptions : al-wafa' 'aziz (jawwad?) wa qalil fa'iluhu ... Loyalty is dear (generous?), but few practice it...". 'Loyalty is dear (generous?), but they are few who do it ...' This is the same or a variant of the inscription on a bowl in the Reza 'Abbasi Museum (A. Ghouchani, Inscriptions on Nishabur Pottery, Teheran, 1986, no. 54). Samanid potters can be credited with the invention of contrasting decoration painted in brown slip on white slip on red earthenware. These ceramics are among the first pieces produced in the Islamic world where epigraphy is the only ornament. A large number have been unearthed in Nishapur and Samarqand (Afrasiyab) and, although none are dated, they are generally attributed to the 10th century. Hillenbrand raises the question of patronage and context, as the inscriptions are exclusively in Arabic, but were produced on Persian soil. The calligraphy on our dishes is strongly reminiscent of that found on Korans copied in "oriental" kufic, where the use of elongations (mashq) contrasts with elongated ascending strokes. While the inscriptions on metal objects are essentially dedicatory, the inscriptions on Samanid ceramics are simpler, of the proverbial order. Many inscriptions allude to faith, generosity and noble qualities. A Samanid epigraphic pottery bowl, Eastern Iran, Probably Nishapur, 10th century