A CHINESE CANTON FAMILLE ROSE BOWL AND DISH FROM THE ZILL AL-SULTAN SERVICE

A CHINESE CANTON FAMILLE ROSE BOWL AND DISH FROM THE ZILL AL-SULTAN SERVICE

DATED 1879-80

Made for the Islamic market, richly decorated in enamels and gilt with shaped panels enclosing birds and butterflies amongst fruits and flowers and figural scenes, the designs reserved on a lotus-decorated blue ground, with gilt medallions enclosing nasta'liq inscriptions dedicating the items to Zill al-Sultan, dated AH 1297 (1879-80 AD), 33cm and 33.3cm. (2)

The pieces were made for Prince Masoud Mirza Yamin al-Dawla Zill al-Sultan (1850-1918), who was the eldest son of Nasr al-Din Shah. As his mother was not from the Qajar dynasty's family group, he was not in line to the throne. Masoud Mirza was appointed as governor in various Persian provinces. He became renowned for his cruelty and for the destruction of a number of Safavid palaces.

Cf. Bonhams London, 18th October 2016, lot 156 for further pieces from this service; see also Christie's London, 15th May 2018, lot 258 for another dish with the same design.