Dish thumbnail 1
Dish thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Islamic Middle East, Room 42, The Jameel Gallery

Dish

17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown (maker)
Place of origin
Iran (made)

This dish is an example of the brilliantly coloured ceramics Iranian potters created in the period 1600-1700. Often, as here, they used single colour glazes. Many of these wares have moulded or carved decoration, as on the rim of this piece.

In the 16th century, ceramic production in Iran was on a modest scale. When the capital moved to Isfahan around 1600, the production of luxury dishes and wall tiles in a wide variety of styles and techniques rapidly increased.

We cannot identify a particular centre of production of ceramic vessels. Surviving pieces illustrate the many techniques the potters used. These included underglaze painting and coloured glazes, and lustre, which was revived after 1650.


Object details

Categories
Islam
Ceramics
Object type
Dish
Materials and techniques
Fritware, slipped and glazed
Brief description
Dish, fritware covered in a lavender glaze under a white slip, Iran, 17th century
Physical description
Large fritware plate covered with a monochrome lavender-blue glaze, under a white slip. The foot-ring has been wiped clean of glaze before firing. Slight chips to outer edge. The only decoration is in the rim and consists of ridged lines towards the centre of the plate, bordered on the outer and inner edge with a fine line.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 29cm
  • Height: 9cm
Style
Safavid
Gallery label
  • Jameel Gallery Safavid Ceramics and Colour Safavid potters created brilliantly coloured ceramics. The effect was often achieved with glazes of a single colour. Many of these wares have moulded or carved decoration. The most unusual appears on bottles made in the 17th century, which bear scenes of people and animals. A second technique used coloured slips, or liquid clay, under the glaze. Potters sometimes carved the slip away to reveal the white body beneath. In other cases, they added designs in white and other slips. 10-11 Lavender Dishes Iran 1600-1700 Fritware under coloured glaze Museum no. 490-1888, 1282-1876(Jameel Gallery)
  • DISH. Earthenware with lavender glaze. PERSIAN; 17th century. 490-1888(1954-)
Summary
This dish is an example of the brilliantly coloured ceramics Iranian potters created in the period 1600-1700. Often, as here, they used single colour glazes. Many of these wares have moulded or carved decoration, as on the rim of this piece.

In the 16th century, ceramic production in Iran was on a modest scale. When the capital moved to Isfahan around 1600, the production of luxury dishes and wall tiles in a wide variety of styles and techniques rapidly increased.

We cannot identify a particular centre of production of ceramic vessels. Surviving pieces illustrate the many techniques the potters used. These included underglaze painting and coloured glazes, and lustre, which was revived after 1650.
Collection
Middle East Section
Accession number
490-1888

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 10, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O109223/dish-unknown/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest