Condiment Box
1690-1720 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The purpose of this box with multiple receptacles has not been accurately identified, it may have been used for cosmetics or condiments such as spices or sweetmeats. Iranian women used dyes and natural paints on their faces, including kohl to emphasize their dark eyebrows, rouge and henna; they also burned perfumes, which may have been contained in these boxes. The V&A has a second Safavid model (cf.1145-1876), and the decoration is similar to the painting on some plates (cf. 2692f-1876). There are comparable examples of this form dated to the 13th century, the use of these older objects is also speculative.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 8 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Fritware, underglaze painted in blue |
| Brief description | Condiment or cosmetic box, fritware, composed of seven cylindrical receptacles, each with a cover, underglaze painted in blue with landscapes; Iran, 1690-1720. |
| Physical description | Six small units surround a central unit, all the same size. Each has a small lid decorated with a circular scroll round a central knob. On the outside the bevelled rectangular panels are encompassed by two sets of double lines with four vertical lines as dividers. The decoration on each panel is slightly different, with balustrades, trees, flowers, birds and human figures. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Summary | The purpose of this box with multiple receptacles has not been accurately identified, it may have been used for cosmetics or condiments such as spices or sweetmeats. Iranian women used dyes and natural paints on their faces, including kohl to emphasize their dark eyebrows, rouge and henna; they also burned perfumes, which may have been contained in these boxes. The V&A has a second Safavid model (cf.1145-1876), and the decoration is similar to the painting on some plates (cf. 2692f-1876). There are comparable examples of this form dated to the 13th century, the use of these older objects is also speculative. |
| Bibliographic reference | Crowe, Yolande. Persia and China. Safavid ceramics in the V&A, 1501-1738. London: Thames & Hudson, 2002. Page 282, cat. no. 522. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 607:1 to 7-1889 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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