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

Overmantel

17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A major concern of Iranian potters in the Safavid period was to make ceramics in the style of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain. The Chinese wares continued to be imported in great quantities, first by the Portuguese and then, from about 1620, by the Dutch and the British.

Where local Iranian designs were used to decorate blue-and-white ceramics, it was common for other colours to be added. In this case, the potter used red to outline the different elements in his design. This style of decoration is associated with the city of Kirman in southern Iran.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Fritware with underglaze decoration
Brief description
Overmantel for a fireplace, Iran (probably Kirman), 17th century.
Physical description
Hood-shaped overmantel for a fireplace. Fan-shaped and convex with a scalloped rim; decorated with floral designs in underglaze blue and red.
Dimensions
  • Maximum, bottom width: 50cm
  • Height: 47.6cm
  • Centre depth: 12cm
Style
Gallery label
Jameel Gallery Fireplace Hood Iran, probably Kirman 1600-1700 Where local Iranian designs were used to decorate blue-and-white ceramics, it was common for other colours to be added. In this case, the potter used red to outline the different elements in his design. This style of decoration is associated with the city of Kirman in southern Iran. Fritware painted under the glaze Museum no. 266-1884(Jameel Gallery)
Subject depicted
Summary
A major concern of Iranian potters in the Safavid period was to make ceramics in the style of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain. The Chinese wares continued to be imported in great quantities, first by the Portuguese and then, from about 1620, by the Dutch and the British.

Where local Iranian designs were used to decorate blue-and-white ceramics, it was common for other colours to be added. In this case, the potter used red to outline the different elements in his design. This style of decoration is associated with the city of Kirman in southern Iran.
Bibliographic reference
Lane, A. Guide to the Collection of tiles in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1960, p.18, plate 11c
Collection
Accession number
266-1884

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Record createdJanuary 28, 2004
Record URL
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