Dish thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Islamic Middle East, Room 42, The Jameel Gallery

Dish

1450-1550 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The shape, decoration and colour of this Iranian dish were all inspired by Chinese celadon ware. Celadon wares made at Longquan in southern China were the most popular type of porcelain imported into the Middle East in the 14th and 15th centuries. The characteristic green glaze of celadon ware can vary in tone and includes the greyish-green shown here.

The body of this dish is fritware. Fritware was also known as stone paste or quartz paste. It was developed by Middle Eastern potters as a response to the challenge posed by Chinese porcelain. The main ingredient was fine quartz powder made by grinding sand or pebbles. Small quantities of white clay and a glassy substance known as frit were added. The clay gave plasticity. The frit helped to bind the body after firing.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Fritware, moulded, slipped and glazed
Brief description
Dish, fritware with moulded relief decoration covered in a green glaze under a white slip, Iran (perhaps Nishapur or Tabriz), 1450-1550.
Physical description
Shallow fritware dish with a wide foot ring, with relief decoration, moulded or sprigged, covered in a green glaze over a white slip, made in imitation of 14th-century Chinese celadons (Longquan ware); the foot has been wiped clean of glaze before firing.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 34.5cm
  • Height: 6.5cm
Style
Gallery label
  • Jameel Gallery Green Dish Iran, perhaps Nishapur or Tabriz 1450-1550 The shape, decoration and green colour of this Iranian dish were all inspired by Chinese celadon ware, which has a greyish-green glaze. Celadons made at Longquan in southern China were the most popular type of porcelain imported into the Middle East in the 14th and 15th centuries. Moulded fritware under an opaque green glaze Museum no. C.10-1947 Given by Sir Frank Brangwyn, RA(Jameel Gallery)
  • Dish Fritware, with moulded decoration and green glaze PERSIA; about 1400 to 1500 AD Given by Sir Frank Brangwyn, R.A. This dish closely imitates a 14th century Chinese celadon of Longquan type. Celadons were particularly prized in the Middle East as they were thought to betray the presence of poisons in food by a change of colour.(Used until 11/2003)
Credit line
Given by Sir Frank Brangwyn RA
Summary
The shape, decoration and colour of this Iranian dish were all inspired by Chinese celadon ware. Celadon wares made at Longquan in southern China were the most popular type of porcelain imported into the Middle East in the 14th and 15th centuries. The characteristic green glaze of celadon ware can vary in tone and includes the greyish-green shown here.

The body of this dish is fritware. Fritware was also known as stone paste or quartz paste. It was developed by Middle Eastern potters as a response to the challenge posed by Chinese porcelain. The main ingredient was fine quartz powder made by grinding sand or pebbles. Small quantities of white clay and a glassy substance known as frit were added. The clay gave plasticity. The frit helped to bind the body after firing.
Bibliographic references
  • Jean Soustiel, La céramique islamique. Le guide du connaisseur. Fribourg: Office du Livre, 1985, p. 197, pl. 228.
  • Rosalind Wade Haddon, "Trade and innovation seen through Mamluk, Ilkhanid, and Golden Horde imitation celadon wares," in Art, Trade and Culture in the Islamic World and Beyond. From the Fatimids to the Mughals. Studies Presented to Doris Behrens-Abouseif, ed. Alison Ohta, J.M. Rogers and Rosalind Wade Haddon, London: Gingko Library, 2016, pp. 150-58, fig. 3.
Collection
Accession number
C.10-1947

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 createdNovember 7, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest