Bowl with Addorsed Birds

The bowl, which is in excellent condition, has flaring sides and a slightly everted rim, and is finely potted. The centre has addorsed birds with a foliate spray between them. The details are incised in the lustre, somewhat in the manner of Fatimid pottery bearing the name Sa'd. The sides have a pseudo-Kufic inscription of repeating letter forms with swags and curlicues below it. The exterior has two inscriptions. One consists of a single word, probably khass ('private'). The second appears to be a signature, 'from the work of Ibn al-Hatif (?)'. [For 'Tell Minis' ware, see POT 1748].