A RARE KASHAN TURQUOISE-GLAZED FIGURE OF A MONGOL, PERSIA, 13TH CENTURY A RARE KASHAN TURQUOISE-GLAZED FIGURE OF A MONGOL, PERSIA, 13TH CENTURY A RARE KASHAN TURQUOISE-GLAZED FIGURE OF A MONGOL, PERSIA, 13TH CENTURY A RARE KASHAN TURQUOISE-GLAZED FIGURE OF A MONGOL, PERSIA, 13TH CENTURY A RARE KASHAN TURQUOISE-GLAZED FIGURE OF A MONGOL, PERSIA, 13TH CENTURY A RARE KASHAN TURQUOISE-GLAZED FIGURE OF A MONGOL, PERSIA, 13TH CENTURY A RARE KASHAN TURQUOISE-GLAZED FIGURE OF A MONGOL, PERSIA, 13TH CENTURY

A RARE KASHAN TURQUOISE-GLAZED FIGURE OF A MONGOL, PERSIA, 13TH CENTURY

Reference: ART3004616

A moulded horse and rider, with details of the reins and facial features of the figure and horse, the rider with an erect posture holding his sword against his right shoulder and reins in both hands, overall decorated with a light turquoise glaze.
Height: 27 cm.
Length: 27 cm.
Width: 5.5 cm.

CATALOGUE NOTE
Sotheby's, London 5 October 2011, lot 217.
Art of the Islamic world day sale including fine carpets and textiles.

The present sculpture of a rider with Mongolian features and his horse presents a rare example of thirteenth century Persian sculpture. The exact context for the use of such free-standing sculptures is unclear even though some animal-shaped sculptures were probably part of fountains and as such contain water parts. (Watson 2004, p.324. Cat.L29)
The stylistic features of this sculpture demonstrate the Mongolian influence in Persia during and after their rule from 1221-1256. This rider can be compared to a large Kashan turquoise pottery figure of a seated man also sold at Sotheby's on 6 October 2010, lot 159, with the same stylistic long beard.
These figures are representative models of the hand-moulded Kashan production of the thirteenth century and are admired for their quiet nobility.