Bowl with Scrolls and Fishes

13th century

Not on view

This bowl is attributed to Kashan, Iran. The decoration, painted in black under a transparent turquoise glaze, depicts in the cavetto a large motif comprised of vegetal designs and fish, while similar vegetal elements form a band around the interior of the body. Although the underglaze technique was common on Iranian stonepaste vessels, it did not have the same wide-reaching popularity as Syrian underglaze-painted wares of the 12th and 13th centuries.

The bowl came to the Museum in 1920, together with a large group of objects bequeathed from the collection of the antique dealer William Milne Grinnell. A modern label attached under the base reads, in Arabic, "[2?]5904".

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

References

Title: Bowl with Scrolls and Fishes
Date: 13th century
Geography: Probably from Iran
Medium: Stonepaste; underglaze painted
Dimensions: H. 4 in. (10.2 cm)
Diam. 8 1/4 in. (21 cm)
Wt. 13.1 oz. (371.4 g)
Classification: Ceramics
Credit Line: The Grinnell Collection, Bequest of William Milne Grinnell, 1920
Object Number: 20.120.32
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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Luster Bowl with Winged Horse, Stonepaste; luster-painted on opaque monochrome glaze — Luster Bowl with Winged Horse
late 12th century

Turquoise Bowl with Lute Player and Audience, Stonepaste; glazed (opaque monochrome), in-glaze- and overglaze-painted, gilded — Turquoise Bowl with Lute Player and Audience
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Pierced Jug with Harpies and Sphinxes, Stonepaste; openwork, underglaze-painted, glazed in transparent turquoise — Pierced Jug with Harpies and Sphinxes
dated 612 AH/1215–16 CE

Mihrab (Prayer Niche), Mosaic of polychrome-glazed cut tiles on stonepaste body; set into mortar — Mihrab (Prayer Niche)
dated 755 AH/1354–55 CE

Bowl with Radiating Panel Design, Stonepaste; underglaze painted — Bowl with Radiating Panel Design
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