Ewer
ca. 1220 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The complex shape of this turquoise ewer shows how potters borrowed designs from contemporary Iranian metalwork. This piece is moulded fritware. Middle Eastern potters developed fritware in response to the challenge of the superior wares imported from China. In the 12th and early 13th centuries, potters in Kashan and other centres in Iran produced fine decorated fritwares in an astonishing range of styles.
The main ingredient in fritware was fine quartz powder made by grinding sand or pebbles. Small quantities of white clay and a glassy substance known as frit were added. The clay gave plasticity. The frit helped to bind the body after firing. Unlike high-fired Chinese porcelain, low-fired fritware was soft and porous. Like porcelain it was white all the way through and could be used to make convincing substitutes.
The main ingredient in fritware was fine quartz powder made by grinding sand or pebbles. Small quantities of white clay and a glassy substance known as frit were added. The clay gave plasticity. The frit helped to bind the body after firing. Unlike high-fired Chinese porcelain, low-fired fritware was soft and porous. Like porcelain it was white all the way through and could be used to make convincing substitutes.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Moulded fritware with turquoise glaze |
| Brief description | Moulded fritware ewer with turquoise glaze, Iran (probably Kashan), about 1220. |
| Physical description | Moulded fritware ewer with turquoise glaze |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Ades Family Collection, accepted under the Cultural Gifts Scheme by HM Government and allocated to the V&A, 2019. |
| Production | Said to have been found in Jurjan (Gorgan) |
| Summary | The complex shape of this turquoise ewer shows how potters borrowed designs from contemporary Iranian metalwork. This piece is moulded fritware. Middle Eastern potters developed fritware in response to the challenge of the superior wares imported from China. In the 12th and early 13th centuries, potters in Kashan and other centres in Iran produced fine decorated fritwares in an astonishing range of styles. The main ingredient in fritware was fine quartz powder made by grinding sand or pebbles. Small quantities of white clay and a glassy substance known as frit were added. The clay gave plasticity. The frit helped to bind the body after firing. Unlike high-fired Chinese porcelain, low-fired fritware was soft and porous. Like porcelain it was white all the way through and could be used to make convincing substitutes. |
| Other number | LOAN:ADES.1 - Previous loan number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | ME.113-2019 |
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| Record created | December 9, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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