A MULTAN BLUE AND TURQUOISE POTTERY MOON FLASK
Sindh, Pakistan, late 19th century

Of rare and unusual circular shape, with compressed sides and a circular hole in the centre, resting on an hemispherical foot, rising to a flared hourglass-shaped neck with gently everted rim, with a pair of zoomorphic turquoise-glazed handles to the sides of the neck's base, reminiscent of Chinese Yuan elephants' handles, the exterior painted in cobalt blue and turquoise against a white-slip ground, the decoration consisting of scrolling floral and vegetal trellis around the body, framed within narrower bands with lush palmette leaves on the neck and foot, the central hole acting like the corolla of a flower framed by a geometric pattern with pointy petals, the interior fully glazed in turquoise, 30cm high.

Purchased from Marryat Antique Dealers over ten years ago and in a private London collection since.