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

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.

A fragment of a large hanging, depicting a kneeling Persian nobleman betweeen two horsemen. Embroidered in chain stitch on a coarse weave. For a similar complete embroidery please look at the Museum Rietberg publication by Marie-Louise Nabholz-Kartaschoff / Axel Langer. "Pfauen, Blüten & Zypressen", no. 38. Provenance: from a Swiss private collection. Condition: faded, one tear. Dimension: 39.5 cm x 70.5 cm

Composed of different cotton fabrics, made into a rectangular shaped woman’s prayer cloth indicating qibla, the direction of prayer. The basic fabrics are geometrically worked tapestry weaves, crocheted together. All sides with fringes, backed with a plain weaves. Condition: traces of usage, few thin areas, lining little stained. Dimension with fringes: 113 cm x 55 cm.

The basic fabric is a very fine plain weave, probably cotton with some silk, embroidered with pastel colored silk yarn and metal threads. Worked identically on both surfaces. Condition: few losses of metal thread, six small holes, little patina. Dimension: 214 cm x 36.5 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.

Bulbous copper body with floral decoration in polychrome enamels. Originating from Syria. Condition: base with a small repair, three areas with losses of the enamel. Dimension: 17.5 cm high, diameter: 21 cm, weight: 1060 g.

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 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 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.

Cylindrical container made of brass with a domed cover and decorated base both close fitting. With engraved decoration in horizontal bands, the widest with eight medallions each containing a figure at leisure. Its function is not obvious, maybe an ink pot (davat) or a container for tobacco or spices. From an old Swiss collection. Condition: good, few tiny dents. Dimension: 7.5 cm high, diameter: 4.2 cm, weight: 80 g.

A small box made of wood or papier-maché with hinged lid. Painted decoration under a lacquered varnish, showing the rose and nightingale motif "gul-u-bulbul". Provenance: a gentleman's collection, Geneva - Switzerland. Condition: traces of usage, the varnish is very glossy, lid slightly bent (please look at the photos carefully, they make part of the condition report). Dimension: c. 11.7 cm x 4.4 cm x 2.5 cm.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 rectangular playing card of the "as nas" game, made of papier-mache and hand-painted in ink, watercolor and gold under lacquered varnish. With clumsy depiction of a lady with two children within an oval frame embellished with foil. Description of the game by the Brooklyn Museum: "The full set of cards for the game of âs nâs, a gambling game similar to poker, contains twenty cards, with four each of five suits...

A 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 slot. Please visit the "Victoria & Albert Collections" for further information and examples. From an old Swiss collection. Condition: repaired area, bowl with two tiny chips. Dimension: 27.8 cm long x 3.9 cm wide.