Bowl
ca. 1260-1350 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bowl is an example of a type of ceramic that became very popular under the Ilkhanids. It is known as 'Sultanabad ware' after the place it was first found. However, these wares were probably made at Kashan - the main centre of pottery production in Iran before the Mongol invasions of the early 13th century, which continued to operate during the Ilkhanid period (1256-1353).
Its angular shape with a wide rim overhanging both interior and exterior is typical of the time. Such is the decoration in slip painting that covers interior and exterior except for the low foot. Black is used for the outlines of the decoration. The flying phoenixes and lotus blossoms were common subjects of Sultanabad ware. They were new motifs derived from Chinese origin.
The Mongol invasions created a close link between the Middle East and China as both regions came to be ruled by the Mongol viceroys. In China this was known as the Yuan dynasty. These dynasties maintained close cultural links with each other through trade, by sea and land, along the silk route. This created a flow of many new artistic motifs from China into the Middle East such as the dragon, the phoenix and the lotus blossom.
Its angular shape with a wide rim overhanging both interior and exterior is typical of the time. Such is the decoration in slip painting that covers interior and exterior except for the low foot. Black is used for the outlines of the decoration. The flying phoenixes and lotus blossoms were common subjects of Sultanabad ware. They were new motifs derived from Chinese origin.
The Mongol invasions created a close link between the Middle East and China as both regions came to be ruled by the Mongol viceroys. In China this was known as the Yuan dynasty. These dynasties maintained close cultural links with each other through trade, by sea and land, along the silk route. This created a flow of many new artistic motifs from China into the Middle East such as the dragon, the phoenix and the lotus blossom.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Fritware with underglaze painting |
| Brief description | Bowl of fritware, grey slip, with decoration in white slip and black under a transparent glaze, Iran (probably Kashan, Sultanabad ware), ca.1260-1350. |
| Physical description | Bowl of fritware with flaring sides, wide rim on low foot, painted in white slip on grey engobe, with outlines in black under transparent glaze. The interior shows three flying phoenixes on a densely foliated background with lotus blossoms. The rim is decorated with a pearl-band. The exterior consists of a border with vertical strokes (possibly calligraphical lams), and the outer border with radiating lines. The lower portion of the exterior and the foot are unglazed. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Production | This type of ware is known as 'Sultanabad ware' after where it was first found, but was probably made at Kashan. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This bowl is an example of a type of ceramic that became very popular under the Ilkhanids. It is known as 'Sultanabad ware' after the place it was first found. However, these wares were probably made at Kashan - the main centre of pottery production in Iran before the Mongol invasions of the early 13th century, which continued to operate during the Ilkhanid period (1256-1353). Its angular shape with a wide rim overhanging both interior and exterior is typical of the time. Such is the decoration in slip painting that covers interior and exterior except for the low foot. Black is used for the outlines of the decoration. The flying phoenixes and lotus blossoms were common subjects of Sultanabad ware. They were new motifs derived from Chinese origin. The Mongol invasions created a close link between the Middle East and China as both regions came to be ruled by the Mongol viceroys. In China this was known as the Yuan dynasty. These dynasties maintained close cultural links with each other through trade, by sea and land, along the silk route. This created a flow of many new artistic motifs from China into the Middle East such as the dragon, the phoenix and the lotus blossom. |
| Bibliographic reference | p.105, fig.9
Wade Haddon, Rosalind A., 'Mongol Influences on Mamluk Ceramics in the Fourteenth Century' in Doris Behrens-Abouseif (ed.), The Arts of the Mamluks in Egypt and Syria- Evolution and Impact, (Bonn University Press, Goettingen), 2012. ISBN. 9783899719154 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.52-1910 |
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| Record created | January 19, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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