Cabinet I: Shelf 2
Art of Islam
The millennium between the seventh and the seventeenth centuries marked the zenith of Islamic art and saw the creation of distinctive visual cultural forms as Islam was embraced by peoples of diverse ethno-linguistic backgrounds, ranging from Morocco and Spain on the Atlantic coast to Indonesia in Southeast Asia and from sub-Saharan Africa to Siberia.
In particular, during the rise of the Abbasid caliphate (749–1258) in a climate of political stability and prosperity, Islamic ceramics blossomed. Drawing on the influence of imported Chinese wares as well as local developments in metalware, craftsmen developed a wide range of techniques for making ceramics for both domestic use and architectural decoration. Many of the plates and vessels in the Museum’s collection are of a type called fritware. Invented in the twelfth century, fritware was an Islamic response to Chinese porcelain: by combining ground quartz with small amounts of white glaze, Middle Eastern potters were able to produce a thin-bodied, hard and durable white ware. Fritware provided an ideal surface for various painting techniques, including lustreware, underglaze painting, and overglaze enamels, all on display here (please see individual object descriptions). Also exhibited in this case is a selection of metalware. In the twelfth century, a new style of metalware emerged, where the surfaces of cast bronze objects were densely decorated in copper, gold, and silver inlays. Stunning examples of this can be seen in the two large candlesticks decorated with inscriptions and geometric patterns.
Iranian
Tile with molded lion
earthenware with turquoise glaze
9 5/16 in. x 8 9/16 in. x 1 3/8 in. ( 23.7 cm x 21.8 cm x 3.5 cm )
Museum Purchase
Iranian
Bowl with striped and arabesque designs
fritware (ground quartz & white clay) with blue & turquoise underglaze painting
4 3/4 in. x 10 in. x 10 in. ( 12.07 cm x 25.4 cm x 25.4 cm )
Transfer from the College of Architecture and Design
Iranian
Miniature jar with zigzag design
earthenware with luster and transparent glaze
3 in. x 2 5/8 in. x 2 5/8 in. ( 7.62 cm x 6.7 cm x 6.7 cm )
Transfer from the College of Architecture and Design
Syrian
Bottle
glass
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund
Syrian
Lobed Chalice
fritware (ground quartz and white clay) with blue underglaze
5 1/2 in (14 cm)
Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker
Near Eastern
Small dish
stoneware with turquoise glaze
1 5/8 in. x 6 7/16 in. x 6 7/16 in. ( 4.2 cm x 16.4 cm x 16.4 cm )
Gift of Mrs. Caroline I. Plumer for the James Marshall Plumer Collection
Iranian
Star-shaped Tile with cheetah among foliage
molded fritware, blue and turquoise underglaze, overglaze copper lustre painting
8 1/16 in. x 8 3/16 in. x 5/8 in. ( 20.5 cm x 20.8 cm x 1.6 cm )
Museum Purchase
Syrian
Lamp
glass with enameled decoration
6 3/8 in x 3 5/8 in (16.2 cm x 9.2 cm)
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund
Iranian
Shallow bowl with bands of turquoise glaze and central floral pattern
fritware with turquoise glaze
3 1/8 in. x 13 11/16 in. x 13 11/16 in. ( 8 cm x 34.8 cm x 34.8 cm )
Transfer from the College of Architecture and Design
Iranian
Bowl
glaze on earthenware
2 3/16 in. x 5 1/16 in. x 5 1/16 in. ( 5.6 cm x 12.8 cm x 12.8 cm )
Museum Purchase