Antique West Asian Polychrome Ceramic Vase, Bird And Floral Decoration, Circa 1900

A remarkable Iranian polychrome ceramic vase dating from the late Qajar period, circa 1890–1910.

The vase is distinguished by its tiered and highly architectural form. A wide, flared foot supports a tapered lower section, a flattened, globular central body, a long neck, and a widely flared rim. The balance of the various parts lends the piece as a whole a particularly decorative, sculptural presence.

The decoration is freely painted beneath a transparent glaze. The central body features an intense cobalt blue background, adorned with large white rosettes and stylized flowers. The long neck is decorated with upright flowers reminiscent of tulips, accompanied by leafy stems. The lower section is decorated with small stylized birds amid flowering vegetation.

The rich color palette combines cobalt blue, light blue, turquoise, manganese violet, olive or sage green, and brown-black outlines. This color combination recalls the appearance of ancient Ottoman ceramics known as “Damascus ware” and lends the vase a particularly appealing historicizing character. The form and execution, however, belong to Iranian production from the late Qajar period.

The motif of birds among flowers is part of the long Persian tradition of depicting the ideal garden. It evokes nature, vitality, renewal, and abundance.

The transparent glaze features a prominent natural network of old craquelure. The deeply hollowed-out, unglazed interior reveals a light-colored, grainy ceramic body as well as the firing irregularities characteristic of handcrafted pieces. The deep interior of the neck is rough and partially unglazed, likely in its original state. The vase bears no markings.

The vase is complete and retains a very beautiful decorative presence. It has a small chip on the outer rim of the mouth. An old vertical crack, repaired with visible traces of amber-colored adhesive, is located on one side of the central body. The glaze also shows some wear and small areas of chipping consistent with its age. All defects are clearly visible in the photographs.

Date: ca. 1890–1910
Period: late Qajar Dynasty
Origin: Persia
Material: polychrome ceramic with transparent glaze
Decoration: birds, rosettes, stylized flowers, and leafy stems
Mark: no mark
Condition: good presentation condition; small chip on the rim, old crack that has been repaired, minor crazing and wear

Dimensions:

• Height: 23.7 cm
• Maximum diameter: approximately 12 cm
• Weight: 700 g