A Polychrome-Painted Armenian Earthenware Pottery Dish and M...

Estimate

£300 - £400

A Polychrome-Painted Armenian Earthenware Pottery Dish and Mug, Jerusalem, circa 1948-1967.

Of rounded form, a beautiful polychrome bowl decorated with a peacock and and stylised leaves on white background, the rim with two geometrical bands black and green, signed Palestine with Karakashian-Balian Initials, 25cm diameter, mug decorated with a spray of stylised flowers on red background, signed Palestine with Karakashian-Balian Initials, minor damage on the handle, 13cm high

Karakashian-Balian, an artist and master potter who were brought over to Jerusalem by the British government to renovate the ceramic tiles of the Dome of the Rock. They combined the traditional Kutahyan Armenian Ceramics and Ceramic Artistry of Turkey with what was developed later in Jerusalem. They used the traditional Iznik designs (carnations, tulips and saz leaves) and Kutahya designs (white or blue background) coupled with themes from the Bible. They are believed to have been inspired by the 6th Century Bird Mosaic in the Armenian Chapel and an 8th Century Umayyad Mosaic at Khirbat Al-Madjar (Hisham Palace) near Jericho.