Bowl

Object Details

• Description

  Black, yellow and green pigments on tannish ground, colorless glaze. Repaired.

  The inside of the bowl shows a central tree flanked by two figures seated on stools while additional branches appear behind the figures; two birds with leaves in their beaks are suspended above their heads. The figures hold the branches from both the central tree and those behind them. A floral arabesque band adorns the inner rim. The exterior shows triangles alternating with concentric oval units.

  Some of the pigments have run during the firing distorting the design. This feature is particularly noticeable on the lower portion of the left figure.

  The theme of two figures flanking a stylized central tree recalls the motif employed in Sasanian and early Islamic textiles as well as the traditional investiture scenes (R. Ettinghausen, "A Case of Traditionalism in Iranian Art," in Forschungen zur Kunst Asiens, pp.88-110, fig.21).

  This bowl exemplifies the polychrome-painted wares which were executed in Nishapur during the ninth and tenth centuries. While other types of pottery excavated in this city were also found in Samarkand, this particular group represents a local style produced only in Nishapur. The polychrome-painted wares are characterized by crowded compositions, stylized representations of animal and human figures and excessive use of yellow in their color scheme.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

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

  Special Exhibition of Persian Art (May 1, 1960 to August 11, 1961)

• Origin

  Propably Nishapur, Iran

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  900s

• Place

  Nishapur

• Topic

  Art, Pottery, Arts of the Islamic World, Ceramics, Flowers

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)