Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Bowl

10th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Bowl of buff earthenware painted under a thin transparent lead glaze in purple-black, with touches of bright mustard-yellow and emerald green. Low narrow foot, slightly concave on the underside. Expanding convex sides slightly curved out at the rim. The lip cut with a straight bevel slanting inwards. In the centre is painted a stylised floral pattern surrounded by circular coiled tendril. Round it four peacock-like birds with raised fan-shaped tails face inwards. In the field are four pendent motives hanging from the border, small circles with dots, simple rosettes, and stylised Cufic characters. Inside the lip is a broad border containing a repeated inscription, with circles containing dots as filling. On the bevel of the lip are green and yellow bands separated by purple-black triangles or triple monticules. Outside, a radiating band of hollow pointed ovals containing green, yellow and purple-black streaks. The glaze covers the whole surface including the underside of the foot.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Earthenware painted under a thin transparent lead glaze
Brief description
Bowl of buff earthenware painted under a lead glaze in purple-black, Neyshabur, 10th century.
Physical description
Bowl of buff earthenware painted under a thin transparent lead glaze in purple-black, with touches of bright mustard-yellow and emerald green. Low narrow foot, slightly concave on the underside. Expanding convex sides slightly curved out at the rim. The lip cut with a straight bevel slanting inwards. In the centre is painted a stylised floral pattern surrounded by circular coiled tendril. Round it four peacock-like birds with raised fan-shaped tails face inwards. In the field are four pendent motives hanging from the border, small circles with dots, simple rosettes, and stylised Cufic characters. Inside the lip is a broad border containing a repeated inscription, with circles containing dots as filling. On the bevel of the lip are green and yellow bands separated by purple-black triangles or triple monticules. Outside, a radiating band of hollow pointed ovals containing green, yellow and purple-black streaks. The glaze covers the whole surface including the underside of the foot.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 17.8cm
  • Height: 6.4cm
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
C.33-1960

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest