Inscribed Mina'i Bowl with an Enthroned Figure and Narrative Scenes in Three Registers
INV-4070Iran
Probably Kashan
Seljuq dynasty (1037–1194), Late 12th/early 13th century
Islamic (culture or style)bowldish (vessel)
Date
Seljuq dynasty (1037–1194), Late 12th/early 13th century
Medium
Mina'i ware, fritware with polychrome painting over an opaque white glaze
Dimensions
9.6 × 20.3 cm (3 13/16 × 8 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Andrew Dole
Iranian 12th- and 13th-century overglaze-painted ceramics, or mina'i (meaning enameled), are particularly opulent and luxurious objects due to their broad color palette. Prior to the late 12th century, colors applied to ceramics were generally limited to one or two per vessel. This example, however, has a much wider range of color, including red, blue, purple, black, and beige. The use of multiple colors applied over the glazed allowed for the depiction of increasingly complex scenes on ceramic vessels. Note the variety of figural decoration on the bowl, which is derived from stock imagery dealing with courtly culture.
Also notable
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