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

Bowl

1550-1600 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This Iranian bowl is an accurate copy of a Chinese original in both its shape and its decoration. Here there are lotus sprays on the outside, and the border around the inside of the rim is a distinctive feature of Chinese porcelains made between 1522 and 1566.

In the Safavid period (1501-1722) Iranian potters developed new types of fritwares inspired by Chinese blue-and-white porcelain. In fritware, 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 to give plasticity, the frit to bind the body after firing.

Unlike high-fired Chinese porcelain, low-fired fritware was soft and porous, but like porcelain it was white all the way through and could be used to make convincing substitutes.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Fritware, underglaze painted in blue
Brief description
Bowl, fritware, underglaze painted in cobalt blue after a Chinese original, possibly Tabriz, Iran, Safavid period, 1550-1600
Physical description
Fritware bowl, with underglaze painted decoration. There are lotus sprays on the outside, a thin geometric border around the inner rim.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 16.3cm
  • Height: 7.3cm
Style
Gallery label
  • Jameel Gallery 9-10 Blue-and-White Bowls The imitation of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain continued in the Middle East until the 18th century. These two bowls are close in date and have the same shape, with a high foot and rolled rim. Yet one was produced in China, and the other in Iran. The Chinese bowl bears a reign mark for the years 1426-35. Its decoration suggests it was made much later, but imitating the earlier style. The Iranian bowl is an accurate copy of a Chinese original, in both its shape and the decoration of lotus sprays on the outside. The border around the inside of the rim is a distinctive feature of Chinese porcelains made between 1522 and 1566. 9 China, Jingdezhen 1550-1650 Porcelain painted under the glaze Museum no. C.44-1930 Given by Mr Sydney Vacher 10 Iran, perhaps Tabriz 1550-1600 Fritware painted under the glaze Museum no. C.232-1985. Given by the Friends of the V&A(Jameel Gallery)
  • Bowl Fritware with underglaze-painted decoration PERSIA; about 1400 to 1500 AD Given by the Friends of the Victoria and Albert Museum A high quality copy of an imported Chinese bowl, faithful to the original in all except the fronds of leaves attached to some of the lotus sprays on the exterior.(Used until 11/2003)
Credit line
Supported by the Friends of the V&A
Production
The bowl is a high quality copy of a Chinese original, and the border around the inside of the rim is a distinctive feature of Chinese porcelains made between 1522 and 1566.
Subject depicted
Summary
This Iranian bowl is an accurate copy of a Chinese original in both its shape and its decoration. Here there are lotus sprays on the outside, and the border around the inside of the rim is a distinctive feature of Chinese porcelains made between 1522 and 1566.

In the Safavid period (1501-1722) Iranian potters developed new types of fritwares inspired by Chinese blue-and-white porcelain. In fritware, 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 to give plasticity, the frit to bind the body after firing.

Unlike high-fired Chinese porcelain, low-fired fritware was soft and porous, but like porcelain it was white all the way through and could be used to make convincing substitutes.
Collection
Accession number
C.232-1985

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Record createdDecember 1, 2003
Record URL
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