Large Qajar Stonepaste Bottle Vase with Portrait Decoration, 1850

Details

Description

A striking pottery bottle vase from the Qajar period, dating to c. 1850–1880. Hand-thrown from a white siliceous stonepaste (fritware) … Read more A striking pottery bottle vase from the Qajar period, dating to c. 1850–1880. Hand-thrown from a white siliceous stonepaste (fritware) body, it retains the characteristic granular texture visible within an old footrim chip together with a naturally developed age patina.

The vase combines two themes frequently admired in the decorative arts of the period: the portrait of a young nobleman or courtier and a traditional floral composition derived from the Islimi tradition. Large cobalt-blue blossoms, carnation buds and scrolling turquoise-green foliage surround the body, while the long neck is decorated with vertical cobalt-blue bands and floral scrolls.

Designed for viewing in the round, the decoration changes as the vase is rotated, creating a distinctive visual effect. Covered with a transparent lead glaze displaying extensive age craquelure, the vase also preserves visible signs of traditional manufacture, including glaze pooling at the rim, traces of glaze run-off and firing deposits around the footrim.

An authentic and highly decorative example of nineteenth-century Islamic pottery, offering strong visual impact and excellent display presence. Its combination of portrait decoration, traditional stonepaste construction and good state of preservation enhances its appeal to collectors and interior designers alike.

Measurements

Height: 29.2 cm / 11.5″
Diameter: 12.5 cm / 4.9″
Weight: 776 g

Condition

Excellent antique condition overall. Age-related craquelure throughout. Small chip inside the rim. No structural restorations. Displays exceptionally well and remains a fine representative example of Qajar-period pottery. See less