The sun., 1898-02-24
PERSIfN POTTERY.
Learned Orientniist Discusses some Features
OF tho specImens In the Dnnn CoIlectIon.

or tho sprcimens In the Dana Collection.
To THE EDIron OF THE srS-Sir: The scarcity OF
Persian potteries has deprived tre general public OF
the necessary opportunity of cultivatng taste for
them hope that the exhibition of the Dana collec.
tion will be the OF bringing to light the fact that
Persian ceramic art equals II II does not surpass. all
others. There a few specimens Of Persian pot.
teries here which arc absolutely unequalod. Ihave
known Mr.. Dana to be great connosseur and pas.
slonate collector. He was also scientific collector
All Of his pieces interesting from historical
point OF view and other collector say that he
possesses exactly the same pieces.
The great advantage of collecting Persian potteres
10 that they cannot be duplicated. Tho unique
Rhodlan globe. No. l98, which comes from the
Mosque OF Eoou and which we had the pleasure of
selling To him number OF years ago. should bring at
least So 900. which price many OF the London col
lectors would be happy TO pay.
Tho twelfth century glass lamp No. 1877. ought to
bring $4,000. Rothschild paid $4,000 for one which
10 no better. and the remarkable blue and white
mosque lamp, No. l9l. which comes from the Mosque
Suleyman aud which we also sold to him, shouli
bring $4,000 No. 100. the Rhodian lamp with
Arabic inscription, which came from mosque at
Brussa, ought to bring 81 600. The metallic lustre
pieces are remarkably fine and almost unattain-
able at the present time the supply 10 nearly e1
hausted. Bowl, No. 1911. finds many admirers aud is
remarkable piece Mr.. Dana told me that he paid
$1,000 for It, and It should bring at least 81 500 in
the sale.
The bottles. such as No. le9 should bring very
high prices.
These pieces are catalogued as of the fourteenth
and fifteenth centuries but It is proper to mention
hero that consider them earlier than this.
l have often intended to express opinion In
gard to this point. Even the South Kensington Mu-
SCUM handbooks describe them rs of tho fourteenth
and fifteenth centuries. but 1t can be easily proved
from inscriptions recently translated from wall tiles
that they made during the eleventh and twelfth
centuries
consider these lustre potteries contemporary
with the tiles and do not fnd any lapse of time be-
tween them 1t is very hard to determine the dates
OF tho Persian potteries, and these tiles are the
strongest proof we have as to their age.
The metallic lustre pieces are very rare and were
used only by royalty, and the peculiar cases they
sometimes come in show that they were not in com.
mon They mentioned in old Persian MSS.
Great artists OF to-day. while admiring tho skill
shown in the making Of them, remain ignorant to
and material. Ihave read somewhere of q material.
used in making these potteres, called armenian
ball." probably a kind of oxide OF copper. as the
Rhodians. to produce the beautiful rouge de famine
peculiar to their pottcres used copper from their
mines obtainabIe at that time only. They had also
a secret way rf firing them. little heat more or
less would spoil the coors.
Mr.. Danas collection contains many nne specimens
OF Damascus ware. lamp. No. 194. plates Nos 1873 and
1913. bowls. Nos 1913 and l85, and bottles which
arc pure Damascus. These cataloRuad under
varying titles. but they all Damascus ware. In
Europe also this ware is often called Persian. but
this is contrary to my opinion.
There Is a great difference between them although
their origin is the The colors Of the Damas
Gus ware are beautiful the white pure porce
lain. tho green Is as fine turquoise. and the blue
Is unapproachnbe In softness. I must not omit to
speak OF the two soft pieces. bottle. No. 100 and
plate, No 1S2 both OF which are very fine
! am surs that all visitors will admire the three
piece panel OF turquoise tiles from a mosque OF
Brussa. which is called "Yeshil Djami" Green
Mosque) after the color OF the tiles which decorate
the walls. The Rhodan tiles. No. 5s3. come from the
Vade DJnmi tMother Mosquc) OF Constantnople
and they are exceedingly and beautiful, as are
also the mosaic tiles No. 5S2. must express my
great admiration for the rare Hlspano Moresque
plates. Nos. l9o-gl for this art being a worthy de-
scendant OF the Persian art, feel 1t necessary to
mention fine specimens such these.
shall conclude by expressing my deepest respect
for the late Mr. Dana, the great Savant who. know.
ing SO much. was always willing to learn more
remember ayear ago he came TO ask my opinion on
bowl he bought in TIhis on his last trip.
DlKRAS G. KELEKIAN
p. 81 have found with tho help of some other
Arabic scholars the exact transatons OF the inscrp
tons on three OF the lamps. Rhodian lamp No.
100: There is no God hut Allah, and Mohammed is
his Prophet. Prayer keeps man from committing
great sins and brings him to God. You should re.
member that tho mosques belong to God therefore
do not implore anybody but Him."
Glass lamp No. 1877: "Sultan Abusaid is the pure
king May God give him victory and glory. (Mosquo
Thayer In Caro)"
Blue and white Damascus lamp. No. lO4: "AIlah
Mohammed Abubekir Eumer. deliver us from that
which brings fear. o Thou most gracious" D.GK.