Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Middle Eastern (80)

A textile panel made of different dyed silk stripes, exquisitely embroidered with motifs from Zoroastrian myths such as fishes or botehs. The backing is a coarse blue dyed cotton, framed by a black ribbon. These embroidery panels originally would have formed the knee to ankle section of one trouser leg, of a shalvar (pantaloon) from a Zoroastrian woman's wedding costume. Condition: one stripe with small fabric losses (see photo 6), few tears, an old mend, little faded. Dimension: c...

Two antique square Küthaya ceramic tiles with wooden frames. Each painted in underglaze cobalt blue, turquoise, green and red, outlined in black. Showing a quranic calligraphy bordered by a band of scrolling saz and flowerheads. Condition: partial cracquelure to glaze, one tile with cracks in the right angle, partially restored, the other one with tiny glaze loss in the right corner, both slightly warped. Dimension: 23.3 x 23.3 cm.

The ground textile is a dark woolen flannel "inlaid" with pieces of colored fabric and embroidered in silk yarn in different colors. The embroideries from Rasht in Gilan Province were made by professional male embroiderers. Cotton lining, silk fringes. Dimension: diameter (without fringes): 142 cm, fringes: c. 8.5 cm long. Condition: fine, little faded, minimally stained.

A fine Persian nargileh water pipe cup "qalian" in conical form made of copper decorated in enamel against a gilt background. Showing four medaillons with portraits of youths among cartouches with floral bouquets or faces. Interior with clay, the foot with four lugs. Condition: some small losses and cracks to enamel (please look at the photos carefully). Dimension: diameter: 8.7 cm, height: 8.2 cm.

A set of six silver bowls, the center with raised omphalos. Below an acanthus bordure decorated with a band of Arabic calligraphy. No mark, but silver tested. Condition: due to the high silver content the bowls are quite soft and some are slightly distorted. Three bowls with few dents. Dimension: diameter: 10.6 cm, 5.1 cm high, total weight: 476 g.

A large wooden lidded box of rectangular shape, made in Qajar Persia. The surfaces overlaid with micro-mosaic in colored wood, bone and metal, forming different stellar motifs. All with a lacquer finishing, shining golden. The interior with a folding mirror and roughly painted with flowers. The drawer is partitioned, the metal fittings made of sheet metal...

A long woman's coat, made of salmon-colored silk, with woven rows of polychrome flower bouquets. Front and back made of one panel of fabric, therefore the pattern being upside-down at the back. Slitted sleeve ends with embroidery in metal threads and the cuffs lined with additional fabric. Bordered with brocade bands and cream colored cotton lining...

A large silver tray of oval form with applied scrolling handles. The sloping sides of the salver with repousse decoration in the Turkish baroque style. Tughra and two other marks to either end of the tray, each handle with two hallmarks. Condition: traces of usage, the sides with two short cracks, one old repair with crack near the attachment of one handle (pic. 9). Dimension total: 41.5 cm long x 26.7 cm wide, weight: 760 g.

An elegant Ottoman tulip candlestick in the plain style. Bell-shaped base with deep drip tray, the rim with two loops, the multifaceted baluster neck ending in a tulip shaped finial. Condition: please look at the photos carefully (they make part of the condition report) drip tray and finial with a small, old loss, one loop with solder residue, negligible dents. Dimension: c. 27.3 cm high, base diameter: 10.8 cm, weight: 690 g.

A round tray cover made of glazed cotton lavishly block-printed and dyed, produced in Isfahan in the 19th century. Centrally a blossom surrounded by rows of boteh, meandering flowers, cartouches with Arabic inscriptions etc. Qalamkar textiles were especially popular in Persia, often imported from India (here called Kalamkari). From Georges Redard's study collection (please visit http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/redard-georges), mainly comprising Persian textiles...

A pair antique lobed brass vases decorated with interlacing patterns, tendrils and Islamic calligraphy, inlaid in silver and copper. Condition: traces of usage. Dimension: c. 29.1 cm high.

The exterior chiselled and engraved, the neck with a band of nasta'liq inscription and the body with lattice containing flowerheads. Quatrefoil with owner's or maker's name. Condition: traces of usage, rubbing to tinning. Dimension: diameter: 28.5 cm, 15 cm high.

A square composite panel made of antique embroideries from the Greek islands (Ottoman Empire). The basic fabrics are different plain cotton weaves, embroidered with silk or wool and metal wrapped threads. Traces of former mounting, maybe as a pillow cover. Condition: one hole (see photo no. 4), some slits, some missing threads, little faded. Dimension: 51 cm x 52.5 cm.

Of rectangular form with sliding lid. The top and reverse differently carved with the rose and nightingale "gul-u-bulbul" motif. The undecorated mirror is not fixed. Condition: few traces of usage, the mirror glass with some imperfections. Dimension: 19.3 cm x 12.8 cm, weight: 324 g.

A Qajar papier-mache penbox with painted decoration under a lacquered varnish. Showing the rose and nightingale motif "gul-u-bulbul", a popular literary and decorative theme in Qajar Persia. Provenance: a gentleman's collection, Geneva - Switzerland. Condition: traces of usage, small losses, some wear and cracking (please look at the photos carefully, they make part of the condition report). Dimension: c. 23 cm x 4.2 cm x 3.5 cm.

A drop-shaped ewer with ribbed body and hinged lid with small bird final. The rococo style handle connecting body and lid. Curved, simple spout and two finely engraved horizontal bands. Condition: small dents, partially rubbed. Dimension: 35.8 cm high, weight: 1030 g.

A beautiful square cover embroidered in silk threads with botehs and volutes. The ground fabric is a block printed twill weave, edged with a silk velvet border. Cotton lining. Condition: few tiny thin areas, few missing and loose threads, Little faded, lining with stains. Dimension: c. 77.5 cm x 75 cm.

A Syrian bell-mouthed brass vase decorated with interlacing patterns, tendrils and Islamic calligraphy inscriptions, beautifully engraved and inlaid in silver and copper. Base with date. Condition: fine, a bit naturally distorted, few traces of usage. Dimension: 26.8 cm high, weight: 729 g.

A hanging lamp of rounded form with lower domed section, decorated with engraved panels of persons, beasts and calligraphy between swirling pierced flowers. Condition: rim with small restored area, few tiny dents. Dimension: burner: c. 23.8 cm high, diameter: c. 14.2 cm, total height: c. 45 cm.

Large Qajar sherbet spoon carved from light, varnished wood, made in two parts with a long rhomboid handle joined to the boat-shaped bowl-section by a socket. Please visit the "Victoria & Albert Collections" for further information and examples. Condition: fine, only bowl rim with a tiny chip. From an old Swiss collection. Dimension: 45.8 cm long x 7 cm wide.

Composite panel of antique Ottoman embroideries, made into a rectangular shaped woman’s prayer cloth indicating qibla, the direction of prayer. Made in the Ottoman city of Salonika or Kavala. The basic fabrics are different plain weaves, embroidered with silk and silver wrapped threads, crocheted together. Two patches with a kind of floral needle weaving. Bordered with a green ribbon and later lining. Condition: stained and flawed areas, missing threads, faded. Dimension: 159.5 cm x 98 cm.

Beautifully shaped antique Persian nargileh water pipe top made of brass with inlaid cabochons imitating turqoise and garnets. Interior with clay. Condition: traces of usage, lost inlays, soldering repair, slantwise standing, residue of wax (inside) and polish, foot area with a crack (please look at the photos). Dimension: c. 18 cm high, diameter top: c. 6.2 cm, bottom: c. 5 cm.

A curved brass box with hinged lid and a small locking clasp. Beautifully decorated with interlacing patterns, tendrils and Islamic calligraphy inscriptions, inlaid in silver and copper. The interior with wood lining. Condition: fine, few traces of usage. Dimension: c. 14.6 cm long x 8.5 cm high x 8.5 cm wide, weight: 570 g.

An oval brass seal and a square carnelian or glass seal, each with silver mount. The faces engraved with Arabic inscriptions, one dated. Condition: some traces of usage. Dimension: 1.6 cm long, 1.9 cm and 2.9 cm high (with loop).

Three differently worked Iranian women's wool pouches. The first with Kerman embroidery, the second embroidered in the Rasht style and some sequins. The last made of a striped termeh fabric. All embellished with gold braids. Two with printed cotton "qalamkar" and one with monochrome silk lining. Women's pouches in Qajar Persia were used for different purposes as storing kohl, veil, prayer stone, comb, quran etc. Please visit www.qajarwomen.org...

An Iranian mirror with intricately carved wooden frame reminiscent of Persian rug design, covered with clear lacquer. Condition: pinnacle with losses, the mirror glass with some imperfections and lost corner. Dimension: total: 35.2 cm long x 16.7 wide x 2.3 cm deep.

A silk brocade in gold thread with heart shaped pattern. And a cut velvet fabric with pattern in burgundy red on yellow, composed of boteh, leaves and flowers. From Georges Redard's study collection (please visit http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/redard-georges), mainly comprising Persian textiles. Condition: good, velvet with partial loose threads. Please look at photos carefully, being part of condition report. Dimension: c. 30 cm x 28 cm, 34.5 cm x 30.5 cm.

A pot made of copper with gilding inlaid with silver and copper, decorated with interlacing patterns, tendrils and Islamic calligraphy inscriptions in cartouches. Condition: few traces of usage. Dimension diameter: c. 19 cm, height: 15.8 cm, weight: 918 g.

A bokce cover composed of two different silver or gold thread brocaded silk textiles. Metallic thread laced edging with sequins and the four corners with tassels. Cotton lining. From Georges Redard's study collection (please visit http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/redard-georges), mainly comprising Persian textiles. Condition: few thin areas, some stains, discoloration and wear. Dimension: c. 80 cm x 82 cm without edging.

A cover composed of several pieces, lined with green fabric. Blue ground with brocaded boteh pattern in metal wrapped threads. Provenance: a gentleman's collection, Geneva - Switzerland. Condition: wear - mostly only the yellow silk core left. Short parts of selvages undone, one small mend, two small holes, few thin areas . Dimension: 92 cm x 125 cm.

Three small differently shaped Iranian women's pouches. Made of termeh wool fabric with boteh or floral motifs, partially embellished with embroidery or gold braids. Two with printed cotton "qalamkar" and one with monochrome silk lining. Women's pouches in Qajar Persia were used for different purposes as storing kohl, veil, prayer stone, comb, quran etc. Please visit www.qajarwomen.org. Condition: traces of usage. Dimension c.: 10 x 7 cm, 11.5 x 9.5 cm and 11.5 x 8 cm.

A repoussed Persian tinned copper bowl. The etched and engraved decoration with a lovely scene comprising shepherds, camels and so on. Base with maker's mark. Condition: some traces of usage, rubbing to tinning. Dimension: diameter: 16.6 cm, 7.7 cm high.

A Qajar sherbet spoon carved from light wood, made in two parts with pierced handle joined to the boat-shaped bowl-section by a socket. The rhomboid handle with dragons, nightingales and the sun motif, embellished with gold paint. Please visit the "Victoria & Albert Collections" for further information and examples. With (Swiss) collection label. Condition: fine, only bowl rim with a tiny chip. Dimension: 29.8 cm long x 6.4 cm wide.

A pair brass vases with handles, engraved with slightly different decoration of interlacing patterns, arabesques and Islamic calligraphy, one with fishes. Condition: some traces of usage. Dimension height: 21.1 cm, weight: 1'180 g.

An Iranian tinned copper plate, of saucer form. Chased decoration of calligraphic cartouches. Base with maker's mark. Condition: some traces of usage, rubbing to tinning, slightly warped. Dimension: diameter 26 cm, 4.2 cm high.

An Iranian papier-mache box with polychrome and gold decoration under a lacquered varnish. The domed lid painted with a young couple embracing, the six sides with mihrab shaped cartouches, showing figures or flowers. Condition: particularly rims with little wear and laquer losses. Dimension: 9.6 cm long x 6.6 cm high.