Bottle
1600-50 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bottle is a good example of the striking effects Iranian potters created using a single glaze colour and moulded decoration. The most unusual motifs appeared on bottles made in the 17th century. This one, for example, features a lion tamer and a lion on one side, and a lion and a qilin-like creature on the other.
In the 16th century, ceramic production in Iran was on a modest scale. When the ruling Safavid dynasty moved the capital to Isfahan around 1600, the production of luxury dishes and wall tiles in a wide variety of styles and techniques rapidly increased.
It is not possible to identify a particular centre of ceramic production. Among the many techniques potters used were underglaze painting, coloured glazes and lustre, which was revived after 1650.
In the 16th century, ceramic production in Iran was on a modest scale. When the ruling Safavid dynasty moved the capital to Isfahan around 1600, the production of luxury dishes and wall tiles in a wide variety of styles and techniques rapidly increased.
It is not possible to identify a particular centre of ceramic production. Among the many techniques potters used were underglaze painting, coloured glazes and lustre, which was revived after 1650.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Fritware, relief moulded, glazed |
| Brief description | Bottle, fritware, relief moulded with mythical beasts, covered in a green-glaze; Iran, 1600-1650. |
| Physical description | Bottle or flask, coarse fritware, after a glass prototype, of flattened bottle-shape, the long tapering neck terminating in an bulb or garlic-shaped mouth, above a ridged knop, each side moulded in relief, one side depicting a lion-tamer 'walking' his lion on a chain; the other side shows a winged lion and a qilin-like creature, the whole covered in a transparent green glaze. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Salting Bequest |
| Historical context | Safavid potters created brilliantly coloured ceramics in various ways. One technique was to glaze their works a single colour. Many of these single-colour wares have moulded or carved decoration. The most unusual appears on bottles made in the 17th century, which bear scenes of people and animals. This bottle features two scenes: a lion-tamer with his lion on one side, and mythical creatures amidst rocks on the other. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This bottle is a good example of the striking effects Iranian potters created using a single glaze colour and moulded decoration. The most unusual motifs appeared on bottles made in the 17th century. This one, for example, features a lion tamer and a lion on one side, and a lion and a qilin-like creature on the other. In the 16th century, ceramic production in Iran was on a modest scale. When the ruling Safavid dynasty moved the capital to Isfahan around 1600, the production of luxury dishes and wall tiles in a wide variety of styles and techniques rapidly increased. It is not possible to identify a particular centre of ceramic production. Among the many techniques potters used were underglaze painting, coloured glazes and lustre, which was revived after 1650. |
| Associated object | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.1975-1910 |
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| Record created | November 28, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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