Bowl

Clay: fine, white.
Glaze: clear turquoise; iridescent decay.
Decoration: painted in black and dark blue under glaze; queen and two attendants. One of a pair with F1967.25.

Historical period(s)
Saljuq period, 13th century
Medium
Stone-paste painted under glaze
Dimensions
H x W: 10.8 x 20.3 cm (4 1/4 x 8 in)
Geography
Iran
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1967.24
On View Location
Freer Gallery 03: Engaging the Senses
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Bowl

Keywords
halo, Iran, iridescence, queen, Saljuq period (1037 - 1300)
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Description

Clay: fine, white.
Glaze: clear turquoise; iridescent decay.
Decoration: painted in black and dark blue under glaze; queen and two attendants. One of a pair with F1967.25.

Label

This bowl is clearly intended as a pair to another one in the collection (see F1967.25) depicting a seated crowned male figure with attendants. Although women played a significant role in medieval Persian pictorial imagery, they were usually shown as part of a greater ensemble and in the company of men. The female figure or "queen" on this bowl is not only the visual focus of the bowl, but she is also larger in scale than her male companion, which further underlines her importance and prestige. The two vessels are the only known extant examples of a "matching pair" from medieval Iran.

Published References
  • Oriental Ceramics: The World's Great Collections. 12 vols., Tokyo. vol. 10, pl. 92.
  • Dr. Esin Atil. Exhibition of 2500 Years of Persian Art. Exh. cat. Washington, 1971. cat. 77.
  • Mehdi Bahrami. Gurgan faïences. Cairo. pp. 54-56, fig. 11, pl. 16.
  • Dr. Esin Atil. Ceramics from the World of Islam. Exh. cat. Washington, 1973. cat. 53, pp. 120-121.
  • , Eva Baer, David Nicolle, Barbara Schmitz, Oliver Watson. The Art of the Saljuqs in Iran and Anatolia. Costa Mesa, California. cat. 3, p. 135.
  • Dr. Esin Atil. Exhibition of Islamic Pottery at the Freer Gallery of Art. London, March 1974. p. 223, fig. 7.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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