Plate

Object Details

• Label

  Among the most distinct and impressive examples of Persian ceramics are a group produced during the reign of the Samanids (819-1005) in Khurasan in northeastern Iran, present-day Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. These vessels are embellished with inscriptions, usually in the form of a moralizing proverb. The inscription on this small plate reads, "Excellence if the quality of the people of paradise."

• Provenance

  To 1965

  Safani Gallery, New York

  From 1965

  National Museum of Asian Art, purchased from Safani Gallery in 1965 [1]

  Notes:

  [1] The object is part of the museum's Freer Gallery of Art Collection.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

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

  Islamic Art (May 9, 1993 to June 3, 1997)

  Near Eastern Ceramics (May 10, 1985 to September 3, 1985)

  Near Eastern Ceramics (June 24, 1982 to September 23, 1982)

  Near Eastern Ceramics (May 14, 1981 to May 10, 1985)

  Art of the Near East (August 21, 1977 to December 14, 1979)

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

  Near Eastern Art (June 15, 1973 to May 7, 1975)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Safani Gallery (established 1950)

• Origin

  Iran or Afghanistan

• 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.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  900s, 1000s

• Name

  Safani Gallery

• Place

  Afghanistan

• Topic

  Kufic script, Art, Pottery, Arts of the Islamic World, Ceramics, Flowers, Samanid period (819 - 1005)

• Culture

  Muslims, Iranians

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)