Vase

Object Details

• Description

  Clay: soft, dense, buff.

  Glaze: originally white, discolored, partially disintegrated and chipped.

  Decoration: in dark-blue over glaze. Traces of gold lustre.

• Inscriptions

  Deer: Good health; Roundels: Good health. Central band: O thou onlooker who art adorned with the splendor of the dwelling / Look at my shape today and contemplate: thou wilt see my excellence / For I appear to be made of silver and my clothing from blossoms / My happiness lies in the hands of he who is my owner, underneath the canopy.

• Provenance

  Mariano Fortuny (1838-1874), Spain [1]

  To 1903

  Charles Davis, London, to 1903 [2]

  From 1903 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Charles Davis in 1903 [3]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See Curatorial Remark 9, R.E., 1952, in the object record.

  [2] See Original Pottery List, L. 1245, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [3] See note 1.

  [4] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Peacock Room Comes to America [2017-2019] (October 14, 2017 to January 2, 2019)

  Caliphs and Kings The Art and Influence of Islamic Spain (May 8 to October 17, 2004)

  Ceramics from the World of Islam (January 16, 1974 to July 1, 1974)

  Near Eastern Pottery and Persian Painting (May 2, 1923 to March 14, 1931)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Mariano Fortuny y Marsal (Spanish, 1838-1874)

  Charles Davis (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Spain

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1400s, 1300s

• Name

  Fortuny y Marsal, Mariano, Freer, Charles Lang, Davis, Charles

• Place

  Spain

• Topic

  Art, Pottery, Arts of the Islamic World, Nasrid period (1230 - 1492)

• Culture

  Muslims

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)