Description:

Near East, Persia (Iran), Nishapur, ca. late 10th century to early 13th century CE. A gorgeous glazed bowl, probably made for holding salt or some other condiment at the table. The pottery is a coarse, pale brown, and the glaze a deep turquoise. The glaze has pooled in the base of the bowl, making the color appear a deeper blue in this area. The glaze extends around the body's exterior to just above its diminutive foot. There are black lines painted underneath the glaze on the rim. Size: 4.3" W x 1.7" H (10.9 cm x 4.3 cm)

Nishapur was a center of politics and culture in medieval Persia, and their pottery is some of the most unique and beautiful in history. These turquoise items are the result of technological innovation at the end of the 10th century. The body of this bowl (and others of its style) is made of finely ground quartz mixed with clay; this created a white surface on which the artists could paint designs directly. The glaze is alkaline, with a copper base to give it its color, and would be poured over the clay. Manganese was used to create the underglaze design. These pieces may have been inspired by the blue and white glazed pottery that travelled the Silk Road from Tang Dynasty China, but the end result here is clearly not just an imitation, but rather an entirely different, radical style developed in Nishapur.

Provenance: private New Jersey USA collection, acquired over twenty years ago

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#121555

  • Condition: Repaired from three large pieces, but repairs are well done. Craquelure on glazed surface.

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May 30, 2017 10:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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