Dish
17th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This dish is an example of the brilliantly coloured ceramics Iranian potters created in the period 1600-1700. Often, as here, they used single- colour glazes. Many of these wares have moulded or carved decoration, as on the rim of this piece.
In the 16th century, ceramic production in Iran was on a modest scale. When the capital moved to Isfahan around 1600, the production of luxury dishes and wall tiles in a wide variety of styles and techniques rapidly increased.
We cannot identify a particular centre of production of ceramic vessels. Surviving pieces illustrate the many techniques the potters used. These included underglaze painting and coloured glazes, and lustre, which was revived after 1650.
In the 16th century, ceramic production in Iran was on a modest scale. When the capital moved to Isfahan around 1600, the production of luxury dishes and wall tiles in a wide variety of styles and techniques rapidly increased.
We cannot identify a particular centre of production of ceramic vessels. Surviving pieces illustrate the many techniques the potters used. These included underglaze painting and coloured glazes, and lustre, which was revived after 1650.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Fritware covered with monochrome glaze |
| Brief description | Large dish covered in a monochrome lavender glaze, Iran, 17th century |
| Physical description | Fritware plate covered with a monochrome glaze coloured in lavender blue. The only decoration is in the rim and consists of ridged lines towards the centre of the plate, bordered on outer and inner edge with fine line. Many examples survive of this type of Iranian ware, for they are one of the closest imitations of Chinese wares that Iranian potters ever achieved. It is only the opaque glaze that gives an immediate clue, for all other details are meticulously copied. Most impressively the potters managed to give the pieces the required heavy weight, which earlier copies never achieved. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | Jameel Gallery
Safavid Ceramics and Colour
Safavid potters created brilliantly coloured ceramics. The effect was often achieved with
glazes of a single colour. Many of these wares have moulded or carved decoration. The most unusual appears on bottles made in the 17th century, which bear scenes of people and animals.
A second technique used coloured slips, or liquid clay, under the glaze. Potters sometimes carved the slip away to reveal the white body beneath. In other cases, they added designs in white and other slips.
10-11 Lavender Dishes
Iran
1600-1700
Moulded fritware under coloured glaze
Museum nos. 490-1888, 1282-1876(Jameel Gallery) |
| Summary | This dish is an example of the brilliantly coloured ceramics Iranian potters created in the period 1600-1700. Often, as here, they used single- colour glazes. Many of these wares have moulded or carved decoration, as on the rim of this piece. In the 16th century, ceramic production in Iran was on a modest scale. When the capital moved to Isfahan around 1600, the production of luxury dishes and wall tiles in a wide variety of styles and techniques rapidly increased. We cannot identify a particular centre of production of ceramic vessels. Surviving pieces illustrate the many techniques the potters used. These included underglaze painting and coloured glazes, and lustre, which was revived after 1650. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1282-1876 |
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| Record created | February 10, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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