AN IMPRESSIVE MAMLUK STYLE POTTERY BASIN BY THÉODORE DECKPARIS, 19TH CENTURY of tapering form with wide flaring rim and rounded base, moulded and decorated in cobalt blue, turquoise and white with a band of inscription interspersed by pole medallions containing rosettes surrounded by floral interlace, above and below arabesques, Théodore Deck stamp to base47.6 cm. diam.FootnotesInscriptions: al-maqarr al-'ali a/l-mawlawi al-amiri a/ l-kabiri al-ghazi a/l-mujahidi al-murabiti/al-maliki al-nasiri, 'The high authority, the lordly, the great Amir, the conqueror, the holy warrior, the defender, [an official of] al-Malik al-Nasir'. PROVENANCE 24 Apr 2018Théodore Deck (1823-1891) was one of the most highly esteemed French ceramicists in the late 19th Century; stimulated by the zeitgeist of Orientalism which pervaded French society at the time, he was known for taking inspiration from Middle Eastern artefacts and developing colourful glazes which mimicked those found on Iznik and other Islamic ceramics. He was celebrated particularly for the deep turquoise which he developed, known as "bleu de Deck". His work was displayed at the 1862 International Exhibition in London, from which the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) purchased three of his works. Thanks to his technical ability and innovations he was appointed the art director of the Sèvres manufactory in 1887; the first ceramicist to hold the position. For a similar basin in the Mamluk style by Théodore Deck sold at Christie's see Arts & Textiles of the Islamic & Indian Worlds, 22 April 2016, lot 436.