Bowl with Harpies
late 12th-early 13th century
Description
In the center of this bowl two harpies (composite bird-women) are turned toward each other, their tail feathers joining overhead in an ogival arch. In Islamic lands these mythical creatures were associated astrologically with the planet Mercury and were considered generally auspicious. Foliate arabesques sprout from the harpies’ joined tails and fill the space below their feet. Encircling the bowl on the exterior is a single band of cursive script; it contains four hemistichs of medieval Persian poetry, which read, Beware, O friend, things have gotten out of hand. In knowing you [my] days have been lost. I had silver and gold, patience and sobriety. In the grief inflicted by you all four have been lost. The bowl has been reassembled from fragments with only minor losses and overpainting.
Dimensions
7 x 16 cm (2 3/4 x 6 5/16 in.)
Provenance
[Sotheby's London, April 1975], sold; through [Mansour Gallery, London, 1975]; to Stanford and Norma Jean Calderwood, Belmont, MA (1975-2002), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2002.
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