TWO SAFAVID POTTERY BOWLS
Iran, 17th - 18th century

Comprising a blue and white pottery bowl, of deep rounded shape, resting on a short circular foot, the interior painted in cobalt blue against a white ground, decorated with Asian-inspired motifs like stylised peonies and cloud designs, the central roundel surrounded by a floral collar and the rim featuring a beaded band, the exterior painted in monochrome brown, possibly inspired by copper lustre-painted wares, the base marked with a pseudo-Chinese character, 18.2cm diam. and 9cm high; and a similarly shaped bowl, the interior painted in copper lustre against a white ground, decorated with a central roundel with tufts of green and a large central cypress tree, the cavetto with eleven niches in-filled with a stylised floral stem, a fretwork band running around the rim, the exterior with lobed medallions and vegetal motifs painted in ruby-red copper lustre against a monochrome cobalt blue ground, 17.5cm diam. and 7.5cm high.