Lot 1
AN ABBASID BLUE ON WHITE POTTERY BOWL
MESOPOTAMIA, 9TH/ 10TH CENTURY
Estimate: £600 - £800
Auction: 11 December 2024 from 10:00 GMT
Description
of rounded form, with slightly everted rim on a short foot, with two lines of kufic inscriptions in blue on one part of the rim of the bowl, on a white ground
Dimensions
18.5cm diameter
Provenance
Acquired from Earls Colne Priory by the late Michael Archer (1936-1922) in circa late 1960s.
Thence by descent.
Michael Archer
Like his father, William Archer, before him, Michael enriched the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) through his long-term dedication and expertise. Beginning as Assistant Keeper of Ceramics, he was successively Deputy Keeper and Acting Keeper before being appointed Senior Research Curator. Sociable, witty and engaging, Archer was a popular character who enhanced the museum’s knowledge through his research on stained glass, pottery and tin-glazed earthenware about which he published extensively and became an internationally respected authority.
Archer’s expertise was widely acknowledged amongst academics and practitioners. He was appointed Honorary Vice-President of the British Society of Master Glass Painters and a Trustee of the Ely Stained Glass Museum and York Glaziers Trust. He also the chaired both the Canterbury Cathedral Fabric Advisory Committee and the Stained Glass Conservation Committee of the Council for the Care of Churches. Archer enjoyed a long-distinguished career which was fittingly recognised with an OBE in the same way that his parents, William and Mildred Archer, were before him.
Footnote
Inscriptions:
Based on other very similar pieces, either ‘abduhu’ (his slave) or ‘ghibta’ (happiness).
