This is one of two antique pottery beehive covers I have owned for a good many years, bought from a lady in Horley, Surrey, who inherited them some time in the 20th century from her late father who was a retired antique dealer in Kensington Church Street, west London. The second ceramic cover is listed separately. For a long time I wondered what these pieces were until I found examples online in a museum in the United States of America. The purpose of the ceramic covers was to fit on top of a woven reeded basket in which the bees would make their honey. The hole in the cover allowed the bees entry and exit to the basket (the hive). The covers have a particular style which identifies the region in which they were made. They are not modern copies. This particular cover depicts a warrior on a horse spearing a horned animal (or perhaps it is a mythical beast). It measures about 23.5 cm diameter (about 9 and a quarter inches). The depth is about one half an inch. The piece is quite heavy at about 900 grams (about two pounds). It is a little lighter than the other piece and I think it may be earlier in date. (but that is my instinct rather than an informed opinion). The decoration is hand painted which was then glazed over. The designs have Islamic influences and also reflect the cultures of the peoples who made them. I understand the designs can vary from area to area and village to village. I think the academic / museum term for these pieces is’stonepaste with polychrome decoration under a clear glaze’. The rim to this piece had no glaze applied. As will be seen from the images this piece has wear and tear and some damages. It has a chip to the rim at about 12 o’clock (as one looks at the piece) of about one half of an inch. There are also some areas where. The glaze appears to not have taken well (see 3 o’clock in particular). Or it could be that the glaze in this area has been lost through age and wear. There are one or two other. Small chips and losses consistent with use and age. There are no markings to indicate where or by whom it was made as this is a relatively simple piece of antique’folk’ art from a region of Persia, made by country craftspeople for country people to use in their everyday lives. It has great authenticity and charm. Please enquire of me in regard to specific destinations for cost and availability. Should there be any questions, or if further images are required, please do not hesitate to send me a question. Thank you for looking. The item “ANTIQUE PERSIAN HAND PAINTED CERAMIC BEEHIVE COVER SCARCE ISLAMIC FOLK ART (2/2)” is in sale since Monday, September 23, 2019. This item is in the category “Antiques\Asian/Oriental Antiques\Islamic/Middle Eastern”. The seller is “rentabid” and is located in Littlehampton. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Featured Refinements: Persian Antiques
• Region of Origin: Islamic/ Middle Eastern