Bowl

Object Details

• Artist

  Khalid (active 9th century)

• Description

  The main decoration in the center of the bowl is a drawing of a proud bird of prey, probably an eagle or hawk, and differs considerably in conception and execution from other designs found on ninth-century Abbasid luster painted ceramics, which favor highly stylized and whimsical animal forms. While still abstracted, the crisply delineated eagle is resting one talon on a desperate hare and exudes a sense of tremendous pride and presence. The eagle is further distinguished by a collar around its neck and a ribbon attached to one of its legs. There are finely incised lines, suggesting the hawk's plumage, beak, and collar. The decoration of the bowl is also notable for the wreath encircling the edge of the bowl.

• Signatures

  "Amal-i Khalid" (the work of Khalid)

  "Amal-i Khalid" (the work of Khalid)

• Label

  This luster-painted bowl, signed by a Khalid, is a pivotal piece, linking the tradition of luster-painted ceramics, which originated and flourished in late ninth- and early tenth-century Iraq, to production in Egypt, after the gradual disintegration of the Abbasid Empire in the tenth century. The drawing of the proud bird of prey, probably an eagle or hawk, differs considerably in conception and execution from other designs found on ninth-century Abbasid luster painted ceramics, which favor highly stylized and whimsical animal forms. While still abstracted, the crisply delineated eagle is resting one talon on a desperate hare and exudes a sense of tremendous pride and presence. The eagle is further distinguished by a collar around its neck and a ribbon attached to one of its legs.

  The decoration of the bowl is also notable for the wreath encircling the edge of the bowl. Such motifs are found on ninth-century Abbasid tiles from Samarra, and harks back to earlier Sassanian and Byzantine motifs.

• Provenance

  From at least the early 1970s

  Unidentified Persian dealer, from at least the early 1970s [1]

  From 1976 to ca. 1999-2000

  Unidentified British collector, acquired in the United Kingdom from the unidentified Persian dealer in 1976 [2]

  From ca. 1999-2000 to 2004

  Unidentified English collector, purchased from the unidentified Bristish collector in ca. 1999-2000 [3]

  From 2004 to 2005

  Unidentified collector, purchased from the unidentified English collector in 2004 [4]

  From 2005

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased through Eskenazi, Ltd., London, at auction, Christie's, London, October 11, 2005, lot

  no. 50 [5]

  Notes

  [1] The unknown Persian dealer brought the bowl to the United Kingdom in the early 1970s (see Curatorial Remark 1, Massumeh Farhad, October 6, 2005, Acquisition Justification Report, in the object record).

  [2] See Curatorial Remark 1, Massumeh Farhad, October 6, 2005, Acquisition Justification Report, in the object record.

  [3] See note 2.

  [4] Sold by the English collector to another collector in February 2004 (see Curatorial Remark 1, Massumeh Farhad, October 6, 2005, Acquisition Justification Report, in the object record).

  [5] The object was placed at the October 11, 2005, Christie's London auction by the unknown collector listed in line 4. The object was purchased at that auction on the behalf of the Freer Gallery of Art by Eskenazi, Ltd., London (see Curatorial Remark 1, Massumeh Farhad, October 6, 2005, Acquisition Justification Report, in the object record).

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Engaging the Senses (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  The Peacock Room Comes to America [2011-2016] (April 9, 2011 to January 4, 2016)

  Arts of the Islamic World (May 3, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Christie's (London)

• Origin

  Samarra, Iraq

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• On View

  Freer Gallery 03: Engaging the Senses

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  900s, 800s, 700s, 1100s, 1200s, 1000s

• Name

  Christie's (London)

• Place

  Samarra

• Topic

  Art, Pottery, Arts of the Islamic World, Ceramics

• Culture

  Muslims, Abbasids, Iraqis

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes