Bowl painted in grey-blues with brown rim, the well in five panels each containing a leaf, the central flower with four pairs of leaves, Safavid, Iran, 17th century

Bowl painted in 2 grey-blues. A mid-blue glaze covers the outside. The inner brown rim leads to the well band with reciprocal leaves. The well is divided into five panels with large white dividers. Each panel contains a leaf with a central white vein and striped elements on either side on a bed of scrolling ribbons. The central flower with four pairs of leaves and fillers is surrounded by a white band.

This object was purchased in Tehran in 1873, by Robert Murdoch Smith on behalf of the Museum. In his first bulk acquisition for the South Kensington Museum (today the V&A), Murdoch Smith had bought "a considerable collection" of over 100 examples of metalwork, ceramic, inlaid woodwork and textile from different local sources, including French diplomat Emile Charles Bernay and four art-dealers: Nasrullah Dellal, Abu'l-Hassan Dellal, Abdul-Husayn and Reza Kashi of Tehran. Many further acquisitions followed in the years 1873-1878 and 1883-1885, most extensively from the art-dealer Jules Richard, long resident in Tehran.

461-1874