Cabinet J: 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.

"A Persian inscription is incised into the broad band of lustre decorating the vessel's rim. The main element in the decoration is a loosely drawn eight-pointed star from which a further series of eight- and sixteen-pointed stars are generated; beyond them are registers filled with medallions and cartouches. This structure, unusual in ceramic decor, is reminiscent of that found on metalwork vessels of this same period from Iran."<br />
 
Iranian
Bowl with radial design and inscribed rim
fritware with pale blue-green glaze and overglaze lustre painting
3 1/8 in. x 12 1/8 in. x 12 1/8 in. ( 8 cm x 30.8 cm x 30.8 cm )
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund
"This bowl on a high flaring foot probably was made in Kashan during the early years of the 13th century. Aside from a few touches of blue at the rim, the decoration consists of an undulating arabesque scroll which has been incised into the wall of the vessel just below the rim. The contours of the leaf forms were further defined by punching small holes in the vessel's walls which were subsequently filled by the transparent glaze. The connection of this group to Kashan is suggested by a bowl now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in which the interior of the vessel has blue and black underglaze painting in a style well known from other Kashan wares." -PPS
Iranian
Footed Bowl with openwork floral scroll design
fritware with cobalt-tinged rim
4 in. x 7 3/4 in. x 7 3/4 in. ( 10.16 cm x 19.69 cm x 19.69 cm )
Museum Purchase
This dark green flat-rimmed bowl comes from the 13th century Iran and is decorated with abstract and painted designs. The interior features a floral design with buds, white the exterior has highly conventionalized inscribed bands and some floral elements.<br />
 
Iranian
Flat-rimmed Bowl with painted abstract design
fritware with blue underglaze painting and green glaze
3 9/16 in. x 8 1/16 in. x 8 1/16 in. ( 9 cm x 20.5 cm x 20.5 cm )
Museum Purchase
"Object EFS-105 is a 14th century Mongolian-influenced Sultanabad work. The body of the object is a pinkish-tan while the outside is covered with painted blue tinge. The central motif is a spotted lion [leopard]. Stylized birds circle the inside of the object against a naturalistically conceived floral area. The object has been re-pieced extensively. <br /><br />
This object bears the characteristic hemispherical shape of Sultanabad work, and its rendering of the birds and floral motif indicate the Chinese influence of the 14th century. The animal and birds are outlined in black. It follows the general color scheme and motifs of the Sultanabad wares of the 14th century. <br /><br />
The object is 4 inches high and has a diameter of 8 inches. The lion [leopard] is rendered with the Iranian sensitivity and perceptiveness. This object was probably highlighted with white slip."
Iranian
Bowl with Bird and Flower Designs
earthenware with glaze
3 15/16 in. x 8 7/16 in. x 8 7/16 in. ( 10 cm x 21.4 cm x 21.4 cm )
Museum Purchase
"In these vessels pigments were applied within the lines of a pattern incised into the slip, and then the interior was covered with a colorless glaze and the exterior with a yellow-brown one." (pg. 38)
Iranian
Bowl with abstract design, glazed in imitation of Chinese sancai ware
amber, green, and brown glaze on fritware
4 in x 8 ½ in x 8 ½ in (10.16 cm x 21.59 cm x 21.59 cm);10 in (25.4 cm);5 ¼ in (13.34 cm);10 in (25.4 cm)
Museum Purchase
The dish belongs to a large group of sgraffiato wares, examples of which have been found from Afghanistan to northwest Iran. They are characterized by an incised design cut into a slip and enhanced with glazes of different colors, frequently yellow and green. In this particular case, and others like it, the concentric scratched lines are clearly determined by compass while the filler patterns are somewhat less controlled. The pigment is not applied to coincide with the engraved line but rather forms an independant web of color over it.<br />
 
Seljuk
Plate
earthenware with slip and glaze
2 1/8 in x 11 13/16 in x 11 13/16 in (5.4 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm)
Museum Purchase
Iranian
Shallow bowl with floral arabesque pattern
fritware (ground quartz and white clay) with blue and black underglaze painting
2 in x 8 in x 8 in (5 cm x 20.4 cm x 20.4 cm)
Museum Purchase
Iranian
Bowl with foliate designs, after Cizhou ware
earthenware with glaze
3 1/8 in. x 6 3/16 in. x 6 3/16 in. ( 8 cm x 15.7 cm x 15.7 cm )
Museum Purchase

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Part of 1 Learning Collection

Cabinet A: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet A: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet A: Shelf 3
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet B: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet B: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet B: Shelf 3
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet C: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet C: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet C: Shelf 3
<p>Inkwells </p>

Cabinet D: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet D: Shelf 2
<p>Inkwells </p>

Cabinet D: Shelf 3
<p>Inkwells </p>

Cabinet E: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the James Marshall Plumer Collec...

Cabinet E: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the James Marshall Plumer Collec...

Cabinet E: Shelf 3
<p>Selections from the James Marshall Plumer Collec...

Cabinet F: Shelf 1
<p>Mortuary Art from China </p>

Cabinet F: Shelf 2
<p>Mortuary Art from China</p>

Cabinet F: Shelf 3
<p>Mortuary Art from China</p>

Cabinet G: Shelf 1
<p>Mortuary Art from China</p>

Cabinet G: Shelf 2
<p>Mortuary Art from China</p>

Cabinet G: Shelf 3 
<p>Mortuary Art from China</p>

Cabinet H: Shelf 1
<p>Mortuary Art from China</p>

Cabinet H: Shelf 2
<p>Mortuary Art from China </p>

Cabinet H: Shelf 3
<p>Mortuary Art from China</p>

Cabinet I: Shelf 1
<p>Art of Islam</p>

Cabinet I: Shelf 2
<p>Art of Islam</p>

Cabinet I: Shelf 3
<p>Art of Islam</p>

Cabinet J: Shelf 1
<p>Art of Islam</p>

Cabinet J: Shelf 2
<p>Art of Islam</p>

Cabinet J: Shelf 3
<p>Art of Islam</p>

Cabinet K: Shelf 1
<p>Religious Sculpture from India</p>

Cabinet K: Shelf 2
<p>Religious Sculpture from India</p>

Cabinet K: Shelf 3
<p>Art of Islam</p>

Cabinet L: Shelf 1
<p>Blue-and-White Porcelain and Stoneware</p>

Cabinet L: Shelf 2
<p>Blue-and-White Porcelain and Stoneware</p>

Cabinet L: Shelf 3
<p>Blue-and-White Porcelain and Stoneware</p>

Cabinet M: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Dora and William Hunter Coll...

Cabinet M: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the Dora and William Hunter Coll...

Cabinet M: Shelf 3
<p>Blue-and-White Porcelain and Stoneware</p>

Cabinet N: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Margaret Watson Parker Colle...

Cabinet N: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the Margaret Watson Parker Colle...

Cabinet N: Shelf 3
<p>Celadon Wares in Asia</p>

Cabinet O: Shelf 1
<p>Celadon Wares in Asia</p>

Cabinet O: Shelf 2
<p>Celadon Wares in Asia</p>

Cabinet O: Shelf 3
<p>Celadon Wares in Asia</p>

Cabinet P: Shelf 1
<p>Celadon Wares in Asia</p>

Cabinet P: Shelf 2
<p>Celadon Wares in Asia</p>

Cabinet P: Shelf 3
<p>Celadon Wares in Asia</p>

Cabinet Q: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Ellen and Richard Laing Coll...

Cabinet Q: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the Ellen and Richard Laing Coll...

Cabinet Q: Shelf 3
<p>Selections from the Ellen and Richard Laing Coll...

Cabinet Q: Shelf 4
<p>American Plaster Casts</p>

Cabinet R: Shelf 1
<p>American Plaster Casts</p>

Cabinet R: Shelf 2
<p>Apostle Spoons and American Silver</p>

Cabinet R: Shelf 3
<p>Modernist Glass and American Art Pottery</p>

Cabinet R: Shelf 4
<p>American Plaster Casts</p>

Cabinet S: Shelf 1
<p>American Silver</p>

Cabinet S: Shelf 2
<p>Tiffany Glass</p>

Cabinet S: Shelf 3
<p>American Silver</p>

Cabinet T: Shelf 1
<p>American Art Pottery</p>

Cabinet T: Shelf 2
<p>American Art Pottery</p>

Cabinet T: Shelf 3
<p>Native American Art</p>

Cabinet U: Shelf 1
<p>American Art Pottery</p>

Cabinet U: Shelf 2
<p>American Art Pottery</p>

Cabinet U: Shelf 3
<p>Native American Art</p>

Cabinet V: Shelf 1
<p>The Human Figure in African Art</p>

Cabinet V: Shelf 2
<p>African Miniature Masks</p>

Cabinet V: Shelf 3
<p>African Masks and Masquerades</p>

Cabinet W: Shelf 1
<p>The Head in African Art</p>

Cabinet W: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the Helmut Stern Collection</p>

Cabinet W: Shelf 3
<p>Selections from the Helmut Stern Collection</p>

Cabinet W: Shelf 4
<p>African Masks and Masquerades</p>

Cabinet X: Shelf 1
<p>Modern Sculpture</p>

Cabinet X: Shelf 2
<p>Modern Sculpture</p>

Cabinet X: Shelf 3
<p>Modern Sculpture</p>

Cabinet X: Shelf 4
<p>Modern Sculpture</p>

Cabinet Y: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Fusfeld Art Collection</p>

Cabinet Y: Shelf 2
<p>Contemporary Art</p>

Cabinet Y: Shelf 3
<p>Contemporary Art</p>

Cabinet Y: Shelf 4
<p>Contemporary Art</p>

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June 8, 2020 9:50 a.m.

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