Accession Number
1957/1.95

Title
Plate with vegetal design

Artist(s)
Iranian

Artist Nationality
Iranian

Object Creation Date
17th century - 18th century

Medium & Support
earthenware with blue underglaze painting

Dimensions
1 7/16 in. x 5 13/16 in. x 5 13/16 in. ( 3.6 cm x 14.7 cm x 14.7 cm )

Credit Line
Museum Purchase

Subject matter
"Persian potters aspired to Chinese standards in a variety of ways. In this particular example, though the floral motif is a Persian creation, in other examples it is used in conjunction with Far Eastern motifs derived from Wan Li ceramics (1573-1619). The distinctive leaf form does not seem to have visual precedents in the Persian ceramic tradition nor does this piece show the close links to the Wan Li material seen elsewhere. The pretense to naturalism has been given up in favor of attenuated spare form. It therefore seems logical to suppose that our plate was executed around the turn of the 18th century in the Kerman tradition."
 

Physical Description
Baked clay plate with vegetal motif. Paste is a gray-white porcelain, glaze is glossy with a few cracks. The plate was fired upright and contains cobalt on light gray-white colors. The plate is attributed to Kerman of the Safavid period. The swirling treatment of the vegetal forms reflect the Persian adaptation of Chinese wares that occured in this area. Also attributed to Kerman is the dark blue color used to define the painted areas without the hardegded precision of other production centers.

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
plate

Collection Area
Western

Rights
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Keywords
Iranian Islamic pottery styles after the Mongols
Islamic (culture or style)
Kirman
Safavid (Iranian Islamic styles )
Safavid pottery styles
Wanli
ceramic ware (visual works)
floral patterns
plates (general, dishes)