Dish with floral decoration

Artist Unknown Artist

CultureIranian

OriginIran

PeriodQajar period (1779-1924)

Datelate 19th Century

MediumStonepaste with black decoration under a transparent turquoise-blue glaze

DimensionsOverall: 4 × 20 cm (1 9/16 × 7 7/8 in.)

MarkingsNone

DescriptionThis dish decorated with stylized floral decoration was made in Iran in the late 19th century during the Qajar period (1779-1924). It is made of stonepaste, or fritware, a ceramic body first developped by Islamic potters. The invention perhaps took place in Egypt during the Fatimid period (909–1171). Stonepaste is composed of ground quartz, frit, and fine white clay, and is coated by a thin white slip. This resulted in a strong, nearly white ceramic body, which imitated Chinese porcelain. Stonepaste was therefore more sophisticated than tin-glazed earthenware, developed centuries prior. The technology came to Iran in the 12th century, either from Egypt or via Syria.
The dish is decorated with underglaze painting, a technique employed throughout the Islamic lands. Iranian potters started employing underglaze painting at the end of the 12th century. The use of the colour scheme consisting of black under a turquoise glaze dates from this period.

Credit LineGift of the Savard and Tabak Families

Object numberG22.8.2

Classifications

Middle Eastern Ceramics

Sub-classification

Iranian Earthenware

Collections

Status

Not on view