Nishapur moulded monochrome cobalt-blue glazed pottery ewer, Eastern Iran (ceramic)

Rising from vertical splayed foot through slightly widening faceted cylindrical body with flat shoulder to tubular neck and rising trough spout, with simple handle linking neck and body with knop thumbpiece, the top of the spout moulded with interlacing arabesque, the neck with three moulded vertical bands of concentric circles, the shoulder moulded with an intricate design of interlacing strapwork forming a six-pointed star around the neck, the strapwork with scrolling vine, the interstices with finely rendered animals, both real and imaginary, including an elephant with its rider, a unicorn, a sphynx, a winged lion and birds, the neck with three moulded vertical bands of concentric circles.