Plate

A polychrome ceramic plate. Off-white body. White slip. Decoration in blue, turquoise, yellow and red paint under a clear glaze. The turquoise glaze is blurred. The plate is fairly deep with large flat rim. Small, low foot ring. Front of plate decorated in center with stylized floral designs, and large fat bird (?) in center of design. The outer portion of the plate is decorated with a honeycomb pattern filled in with colored dots; the color of the dots varying throughout the different cells. The paint that forms the dots is thick, so as to be raised. The bottom of the plate has a greenish line around the rim and near the foot ring. The foot ring is unglazed and contains four holes for hanging. Glaze is crackled, a few chips and cracks in the plate as well.

Historical period(s)
Safavid period, 17th century
Medium
Stone-paste painted under glaze
Style
Kubachi ware
Dimensions
H x Diam (overall): 5.6 x 27.5 cm (2 3/16 x 10 13/16 in)
Geography
Iran
Credit Line
Bequest of Adrienne Minassian
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1997.58
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Plate

Keywords
bird, flower, Iran, Kubachi ware, Safavid period (1501 - 1722)
Provenance

To 1994
Adrienne Minassian (1913-1994), New York.

From 1994 to 1997
Estate of Adrienne Minassian.

From 1997
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, bequeathed by Adrienne Minassian in 1997.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Estate of Adrienne Minassian
Adrienne Minassian 1913-1994

Description

A polychrome ceramic plate. Off-white body. White slip. Decoration in blue, turquoise, yellow and red paint under a clear glaze. The turquoise glaze is blurred. The plate is fairly deep with large flat rim. Small, low foot ring. Front of plate decorated in center with stylized floral designs, and large fat bird (?) in center of design. The outer portion of the plate is decorated with a honeycomb pattern filled in with colored dots; the color of the dots varying throughout the different cells. The paint that forms the dots is thick, so as to be raised. The bottom of the plate has a greenish line around the rim and near the foot ring. The foot ring is unglazed and contains four holes for hanging. Glaze is crackled, a few chips and cracks in the plate as well.

Published References
  • Thomas Lawton, Thomas W. Lentz. Beyond the Legacy: Anniversary Acquisitions for the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. vol. 1 Washington, 1998. pp. 138-143.
Collection Area(s)
Arts of the Islamic World
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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