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.
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 |
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Style | |
Gallery label |
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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 created | December 1, 2003 |
Record URL |
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