Large plate

Object Details

• Description

  Large plate with flattened rim and low foot.

  Paste: off-white.

  Glaze: grayish-green.

  Decoration: fluted cavetto.

  (Atil, 1973) This plate represents another example of Safavid pottery which is based on Chinese celadons. It has a flattened rim with a raised edge and vertical grooving decorates the cavetto.

  The ardabil collection possesses a number of Chinese celadon plates dating from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Most of these have the same rim and fluted cavetto observed on this piece; some of the Chinese wares reveal stamped and incised decorations in the center (J.A. Pope, Chinese Porcelains, pl.124).

  Islamic imitations of Far Eastern celadons are extremely thick and heavy, although the color of their glaze is quite close to that found on the Chinese prototypes. In the Safavid period, blue-and-white and polychrome designs were also applied to large celadon plates which had a fluted cavetto. One remarkable piece shows a blue-and-white star in the center with the surrounding celadon field slip-painted in white, while others are either painted with white slip or enhanced with polychrome overlgaze colors (Pope, Survey, pls. 802-804; Later Islamic Pottery, pl.87B). A majority of these wares is attributed to Kirman.

• Label

  The monochrome green glaze of this dish is inspired by Chinese celadon ware from Longquan, imported into the Islamic world since the thirteenth century. Its earthenware body is thicker and softer than the Longquan prototype, but the colour of the galze closely resembles that of the Chinese dishes, even though it is produced by copper rather than iron. The Persian green-glazed vessels consist primarily of plates, dishes, and bowls of various sizes, used for serving food and communal eating.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Crosscurrents in Chinese and Islamic Ceramics (March 1, 1996 to July 1, 1997)

  A Decade of Discovery: Selected Acquisitions 1970-1980 (November 9, 1979 to May 22, 1980)

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

• Origin

  Iran

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

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• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1500s, 1590s, 1540s, 1530s, 1790s, 1520s, 1510s, 1580s, 1730s, 1570s, 1560s, 1550s, 1610s, 1600s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1690s, 1680s, 1670s, 1660s

• Topic

  S?afavid dynasty, 1501-1736, Art, Arts of the Islamic World, Stone-paste, Ceramics

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)