Dish
ca. 1650-1680 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The decoration on this dish shows how an Iranian potter has reworked Chinese motifs from an earlier period, Here two leopards are moving across the landscape towards a pine tree on the left. In its branches perch two oversized pigeons.
Chinese blue-and-white porcelain had been popular in Iran since the the 14th century and Iranian potters began making imitations soon after. Production rose sharply in the 17th century, perhaps because the Chinese wares were temporarily unavailable.
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 decoration that is typically Iranian. The painted decoration on the underside is similar to a dish dated AH 1077 / 1666 AD (931-1886), also in the V&A collection.
Chinese blue-and-white porcelain had been popular in Iran since the the 14th century and Iranian potters began making imitations soon after. Production rose sharply in the 17th century, perhaps because the Chinese wares were temporarily unavailable.
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 decoration that is typically Iranian. The painted decoration on the underside is similar to a dish dated AH 1077 / 1666 AD (931-1886), also in the V&A collection.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Fritware, underglaze painted in blue |
| Brief description | Large dish, fritware, painted in underglaze blue with leopards in a landscape, Iran, 1650-80 |
| Physical description | Large dish with imitation-Chinese composition, an example of drawing on an earlier border motif, the crane or egret and lotus. (cf. 968-1886, 2719-1876). A succession of nine birds alternating with nine florets with two leaves and regularly spaced dots decorate the flange. The large almost circular composition in the centre includes two spotted animals between two double pillars against a striped ground from which springs the odd crested wve. There is a pine tree to the left, in whose branches are two large pigeons and at ground level a pair of ladder-like balustrades. To the right a Kraak lotus branch with three flowers, compact leaves and sprays of dots reaches up to a pine tree. There are four double-A marks inside the base ring. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | Jameel Gallery
Dish with Leopards in Landscape
Iran
1675-1725
This dish shows the reworking of Chinese motifs from earlier periods by an Iranian potter. The two leopards move across the landscape towards a pine tree on the left. In its branches perch two oversized pigeons.
Fritware painted under the glaze
Museum no. 1099-1876(2006-2010) |
| Production | Attributed by Yolande Crowe to period from reign of Shah Sulayman I to end of Safavid period. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The decoration on this dish shows how an Iranian potter has reworked Chinese motifs from an earlier period, Here two leopards are moving across the landscape towards a pine tree on the left. In its branches perch two oversized pigeons. Chinese blue-and-white porcelain had been popular in Iran since the the 14th century and Iranian potters began making imitations soon after. Production rose sharply in the 17th century, perhaps because the Chinese wares were temporarily unavailable. 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 decoration that is typically Iranian. The painted decoration on the underside is similar to a dish dated AH 1077 / 1666 AD (931-1886), also in the V&A collection. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1099-1876 |
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| Record created | November 19, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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