Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Not currently on display at the V&A
On display at the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art, Athens, Greece

Dish 608-1889

1642-1666 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Dish with white body featuring a geometric pattern in cobalt blue pigment, based on a central square with four bracketed panels. These panels ride over the flange as do the four connected larger squares, all filled with scrolling leaves and central florets. The central square and four connecting elements are reserve-painted with small birds and clouds. The plain areas are incised with segmented waves and dashes (see also Crowe, 2002, no. 170). The whole dish is covered by a transparent glaze which has pooled and thickened on the outside, giving the illusion of an olive-green colour.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
fritware body with transparent glaze, painted and fired
Brief description
Ceramic
Physical description
Dish with white body featuring a geometric pattern in cobalt blue pigment, based on a central square with four bracketed panels. These panels ride over the flange as do the four connected larger squares, all filled with scrolling leaves and central florets. The central square and four connecting elements are reserve-painted with small birds and clouds. The plain areas are incised with segmented waves and dashes (see also Crowe, 2002, no. 170). The whole dish is covered by a transparent glaze which has pooled and thickened on the outside, giving the illusion of an olive-green colour.
Dimensions
  • Height: 6.7cm
  • Width: 46.6cm
  • Base width: 25.9cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Three tassel marks (1) Decoration 2) Makers's mark; On base ring; painted)
Object history
The geometric design on this dish is the most original of the group of floral and incised geometry wares identified by Y. Crowe; the most sophisticated group of Persian ceramics of the Safavid period (see Crowe, 2002, nos.166-176 for further examples). Geometric compositions and flowers with occasional birds decorate most of the large dishes. The design of these dishes is similar to those painted in the Chinese Anhua style (meaning secret or hidden decoration), a fine incised ware which first appeared in China in the Yongle period (1403-1424). Patterns of these wares are sometimes moulded.

Historical significance: This type of ware was produced during the reign of Shah Abbas II (1642-1666) which falls within the so-called Transitional period in Chinese ceramics which lasted from approx. 1620-1683 when the kilns at Jingdezhen resumed their production of imperial orders for the Qing court. Literati and merchants became a new clientele, purchasing the new blue and white wares, which also found its way abroad to Persia as export wares. The influence of the Transitional style on Safavid ceramics replaced that of the Kraak wares.
Historical context
The unique Persian contribution to this style is the combination of various geometric patterns, with incised contours emphasised in blue. The plain-coloured glaze which usually covers the outside of the dish may indicate a connection with plain-glazed vessels, both Chinese and Persian of the same period.
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic reference
Y. Crowe, Persia and China. Safavid Blue and White Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum 1501-1738, London, Thames & Hudson, 2002, pp. 103-104; 124-127.
Collection
Accession number
608-1889

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Record createdJanuary 26, 2004
Record URL
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