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

Jar

1640-60 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The decoration on this magnificent jar, one of the largest in the collection, was inspired by native Islamic designs found throughout the decorative arts, in metalware, bookbinding, carpet design and Iznik tiles. The pattern is based on a grid or latticework design which helps to organize the floral motifs, with stylized blossoms added at the interstices.

These fantastic flowers are based on Iranian interpretations of the Chinese lotus motifs, introduced in the Timurid period, while the lines loosely form stems with half leaves or split palmettes. The closest parallels are found in sixteenth-century Iznik tiles, with similar designs on flat surfaces. Another source for the decorative scheme is found on seventeenth-century carpets made in Kerman, where this jar was probably made.

Chinese blue-and-white porcelain had been popular in Iran since the 14th century, almost immediately imitated by Iranian potters. Production rose sharply in the 17th century, when Chinese wares were unavailable because of political strife in China. Some of the Iranian wares were close imitations of Chinese originals and even had copies of Chinese maker’s marks on the base. Other items were obviously inspired by Chinese pottery but have a shape or (as here) decoration that is typically Iranian.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Fritware, painted unter the glaze
Brief description
Large storage jar with Iranian decoration in blue and white; Iran (probably Kirman), 1640-60.
Physical description
Fritware storage jar decorated with a network of floral motifs in blue on white, with a brass collar. The placing of the flowers on the body has been carefully organised so that three rows of large autumn lotuses are set on the wider parts of the jar with alternating summer lotuses. At the top, in the middle and at the bottom, three rows of stylised rounded flowers and buds with their less imposing forms complete the lattice. The shapes of the leaves vary from serrated to elongated and include the flaming finials of the more conventional Kraak leaf.
Dimensions
  • Height: 52.5cm
  • Diameter: 41.5cm
Style
Gallery label
Jameel Gallery Large Storage Jar with Iranian Decoration Iran, probably Isfahan 1600-1700 This jar is one of the few blue-and-white vessels decorated with a local Iranian pattern - a trellis set with large blossoms. Yet even in this design there is a strong Chinese element, as the highly stylised flowers were originally derived from Chinese lotus motifs. Fritware painted under the glaze, with later brass collar Museum no. 692-1902(Jameel Gallery)
Subject depicted
Summary
The decoration on this magnificent jar, one of the largest in the collection, was inspired by native Islamic designs found throughout the decorative arts, in metalware, bookbinding, carpet design and Iznik tiles. The pattern is based on a grid or latticework design which helps to organize the floral motifs, with stylized blossoms added at the interstices.

These fantastic flowers are based on Iranian interpretations of the Chinese lotus motifs, introduced in the Timurid period, while the lines loosely form stems with half leaves or split palmettes. The closest parallels are found in sixteenth-century Iznik tiles, with similar designs on flat surfaces. Another source for the decorative scheme is found on seventeenth-century carpets made in Kerman, where this jar was probably made.

Chinese blue-and-white porcelain had been popular in Iran since the 14th century, almost immediately imitated by Iranian potters. Production rose sharply in the 17th century, when Chinese wares were unavailable because of political strife in China. Some of the Iranian wares were close imitations of Chinese originals and even had copies of Chinese maker’s marks on the base. Other items were obviously inspired by Chinese pottery but have a shape or (as here) decoration that is typically Iranian.
Bibliographic references
  • Tim Stanley ed., with Mariam Rosser-Owen and Stephen Vernoit, Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art from the Middle East, London, V&A Publications, 2004; p. 71, plate 82
  • Yolande Crowe, Persia and China: Safavid Blue and White Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum 1501-1738, Switzerland/London, 2002, p. 156, cat. no. 248.
Collection
Accession number
692-1902

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Record createdNovember 19, 2003
Record URL
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