Bowl thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Bowl

13th century-14th century (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 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 blue under a transparent glaze, Iran (probably Kashan, Sultanabad ware), 13th-14th century.
Physical description
Bowl of fritware with flaring sides, flattened rim on low foot, decorated in white slip on a grey engobe, outlined in black with some additional blue colouring under a clear glaze. The inside is decorated with floral patterns. The outside shows a row of vertical bands and a border of leaf ornament. Part of the rim and the foot are left unglazed.
Dimensions
  • Height: 11.1cm
  • Diameter: 21.3cm
Styles
Object history
Bought from the Myers Collection.
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 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.
Collection
Accession number
758-1900

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Record createdMarch 20, 2009
Record URL
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