Dish

Clay: soft, buff-white, stained on base. Glaze: opaque cream white, partly crackled and stained. Decoration: a band of Kufic writing from rim to rim in brown slip except for three letters in red. One brown letter at top and bottom. Broken and repaired.

Historical period(s)
Samanid period, 10th century
Medium
Earthenware painted over glaze
Dimensions
H x W: 5 x 42.7 cm (1 15/16 x 16 13/16 in)
Geography
Iran
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1954.16
On View Location
Freer Gallery 03: Engaging the Senses
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Dish

Keywords
earthenware, Iran, kufic script, Samanid period (819 - 1005)
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Clay: soft, buff-white, stained on base. Glaze: opaque cream white, partly crackled and stained. Decoration: a band of Kufic writing from rim to rim in brown slip except for three letters in red. One brown letter at top and bottom. Broken and repaired.

Published References
  • Richard Ettinghausen. The Emperor's Choice., reprint. New York. pl. 34, fig. 17.
  • Oriental Ceramics: The World's Great Collections. 12 vols., Tokyo. vol. 10, pl. 263.
  • Richard Ettinghausen. Medieval Near Eastern Ceramics in the Freer Gallery of Art. Washington and Baltimore. p. 15.
  • Dr. Esin Atil. Ceramics from the World of Islam. Exh. cat. Washington, 1973. cat. 7, pp. 26-27.
  • Lisa Volvov. Plaited Kufic on Samanid Epigraphic Pottery. vol. 6 Washington and Ann Arbor. pp. 107-133, fig. 8.
  • Stewart Desmond. Early Islam. Great Ages of Man New York. p. 113.
  • Yousif Mahmud Ghulam. The Art of Arabic Calligraphy., 2nd rev. ed. Lafayette, California. pp. 293-294.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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