In Arab countries and Muslim realms in the Mediterranean region, artistic innovation flourished in the 9th-14th centuries. Glassmakers fashioned bottles, including those used to store and sprinkle perfume, such as this one, from glass that they manipulated into feather patterns or painted with enamels and gold.For the latest information about this object, bottles, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
Mina’i is a modern collectors’ term for ceramics made in Iran during the late 12th to early 13th centuries. The term mina’i, translates as “enamelled” in Persian, designating the colored glass pigments used to paint detailed figural decoration on vessels or tiles, which were then fixed on the ceramic base by multiple firings. The use of a wide range of colors, including turquoise, red, green, purple, and black, also led these types of ceramics to be called by the Persian term “haft rang,” or “seven colors.”
Mina’i ware scenes often depict courtly pursuits, such as feasting, fighting, or poetry and music performances. These colorful compositions created complex narrative scenes which paralleled manuscript painting. An enthroned prince is attended to by five courtiers in the central and upper registers of the bottle. Separated by a dark band with geometric patterns, a group of horsemen hunt in the lower register of the bottle. The combination of leisurely activities with more warrior-like occupations, such as hunting, was frequently used in the medieval Persian iconography of kingship. This is referred to as bazm wa razm, or feasting and fighting.
For the latest information about this object, bottles, visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
An inscription in Spanish on the rim of this bowl cites the name of its owner and alludes to its function, making it one of the most interesting surviving examples of late Hispano-Moresque pottery: "Esperança de Tierça, wife of Mig[u]el de Navarro, [and] keeper of the tripes in the town of Muel. Year 1603." Inside the bowl is the name "Juan Escribano," surely the craftsman. Tripe is pig intestine used for the casing of sausage. The casing would be fitted over the spout and the meat mixture in the bowl forced into it.
The population of Muel consisted mainly of "moriscos" (Spanish subjects of Moorish descent) who made their living as potters. The town's lusterware production stopped almost completely when the "moriscos" were expelled a few years after this bowl was made.
For the latest information about this object, bowls (vessels), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
Mina’i is a modern collectors’ term for ceramics made in Iran during the late 12th to early 13th centuries. The term mina’i, translates as “enamelled” in Persian, designating the colored glass pigments used to paint detailed figural decoration on vessels or tiles, which were then fixed on the ceramic base by multiple firings. The use of a wide range of colors, including turquoise, red, green, purple, and black, also led these types of ceramics to be called by the Persian term “haft rang,” or “seven colors.”
This footed bowl is a type of mina’i ware called “lavjardina,” a term derived from the Persian word for the blue stone lapis lazuli (lavjard). Rather than firing colors on a white background, lavjardina ceramics glazed color over a dark blue base. A repeated motif of birds encircles the central figure. A kufic inscription lines the inside rim of the bowl, while a stylized floral motif is repeated along the outside body of the bowl.For the latest information about this object, bowls (vessels), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
Mina’i is a modern collectors’ term for ceramics made in Iran during the late 12th to early 13th centuries. The term mina’i, translates as “enamelled” in Persian, designating the colored glass pigments used to paint detailed figural decoration on vessels or tiles, which were then fixed on the ceramic base by multiple firings. The use of a wide range of colors, including turquoise, red, green, purple, and black, also led these types of ceramics to be called by the Persian term “haft rang,” or “seven colors.”
Mina’i ware scenes often depict courtly pursuits, such as feasting, fighting, or poetry and music performances. These colorful compositions created complex narrative scenes which paralleled manuscript painting. This footed bowl features a composition of a single camel at the center surrounded by a string of four-legged animals in alternating colors of red, blue, and turquoise. The bowl also features a pseudo-inscription in naskhi on the exterior.
For the latest information about this object, bowls (vessels), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
Mina’i is a modern collectors’ term for ceramics made in Iran during the late 12th to early 13th centuries. The term mina’i, translates as “enamelled” in Persian, designating the colored glass pigments used to paint detailed figural decoration on vessels or tiles, which were then fixed on the ceramic base by multiple firings. The use of a wide range of colors, including turquoise, red, green, purple, and black, also led these types of ceramics to be called by the Persian term “haft rang,” or “seven colors.”
A man leads two camels across the center of this footed bowl, which is framed by two geometric half-sun shapes. Birds and stylized vines mark the curve of the bowl, and a kufic pseudo-inscription adorns the inner rim. A pseudo inscription encircles the exterior of the bowl.For the latest information about this object, bowls (vessels), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
Mina’i is a modern collectors’ term for ceramics made in Iran during the late 12th to early 13th centuries. The term mina’i, translates as “enamelled” in Persian, designating the colored glass pigments used to paint detailed figural decoration on vessels or tiles, which were then fixed on the ceramic base by multiple firings. The use of a wide range of colors, including turquoise, red, green, purple, and black, also led these types of ceramics to be called by the Persian term “haft rang,” or “seven colors.”
These colorful compositions created complex narrative scenes which paralleled manuscript painting. Mina’i ware scenes often depict courtly pursuits, such as feasting, fighting, or poetry and music performances. The combination of leisurely activities with more warrior-like occupations, such as the hunt, was frequently used in the medieval Persian iconography of kingship. The royal figure at the center of this bowl is seated on a throne, surrounded by four courtiers, two of which hold swords crossed over the ruler’s head, perhaps in a gesture of protection. The outer rim, while partially erased, features seated figures in pairs. Surrounding the central composition is a kufic inscription in Arabic. The outer rim features a fragmentary inscription in naskhi.
For the latest information about this object, bowls (vessels), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
Mina’i is a modern collectors’ term for ceramics made in Iran during the late 12th to early 13th centuries. The term mina’i, translates as “enamelled” in Persian, designating the colored glass pigments used to paint detailed figural decoration on vessels or tiles, which were then fixed on the ceramic base by multiple firings. The use of a wide range of colors, including turquoise, red, green, purple, and black, also led these types of ceramics to be called by the Persian term “haft rang,” or “seven colors.”
Mina’i ware scenes often depict courtly pursuits, such as feasting, fighting, or poetry and music performances. These colorful compositions created complex narrative scenes which paralleled manuscript painting. The royal figure at the center of this bowl is seated on a throne, surrounded by seven sphinxes. A kufic pseudo-inscription on a blue band marks the rim of the bowl, while another pseudo-inscription in naskhi encircles the exterior rim.For the latest information about this object, bowls (vessels), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
Mina’i is a modern collectors’ term for ceramics made in Iran during the late 12th to early 13th centuries. The term mina’i, translates as “enamelled” in Persian, designating the colored glass pigments used to paint detailed figural decoration on vessels or tiles, which were then fixed on the ceramic base by multiple firings. The use of a wide range of colors, including turquoise, red, green, purple, and black, also led these types of ceramics to be called by the Persian term “haft rang,” or “seven colors.”
Mina’i ware scenes often depict courtly pursuits, such as feasting, fighting, or poetry and music performances. These colorful compositions created complex narrative scenes which paralleled manuscript painting. The royal figure depicted here is seen seated on a throne. He is surrounded by two courtiers on either side. Two seated courtiers appear on the upper register, while two harpies stand beneath the throne. The kufic lettering on the inner rim is a pseudo-inscription, whereas the outside inscription is in naskhi.
For the latest information about this object, bowls (vessels), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
Mina’i is a modern collectors’ term for ceramics made in Iran during the late 12th to early 13th centuries. The term mina’i, translates as “enamelled” in Persian, designating the colored glass pigments used to paint detailed figural decoration on vessels or tiles, which were then fixed on the ceramic base by multiple firings. The use of a wide range of colors, including turquoise, red, green, purple, and black, also led these types of ceramics to be called by the Persian term “haft rang,” or “seven colors.”
Mina’i ware scenes often depict courtly pursuits, such as feasting, fighting, or poetry and music performances. These colorful compositions created complex narrative scenes which paralleled manuscript painting. These colorful compositions created complex narrative scenes which paralleled manuscript painting. This footed bowl’s interior features a central figure on horseback, framed by two armed figures hoisting weapons. With seated figures above the horseman, surrounded by stylized vines, and two sphinxes detailed beneath the fighting figures, this bowl is an example of bazm wa razm, or feasting and fighting. The combination of leisurely activities with more warrior-like occupations, such as hunting, was frequently used in the medieval Persian iconography of kingship. A kufic inscription surrounds the upper rim of the bowl while the exterior is adorned with a naskhi inscription.For the latest information about this object, bowls (vessels), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style:
Mina’i is a modern collectors’ term for ceramics made in Iran during the late 12th to early 13th centuries. The term mina’i, translates as “enamelled” in Persian, designating the colored glass pigments used to paint detailed figural decoration on vessels or tiles, which were then fixed on the ceramic base by multiple firings. The use of a wide range of colors, including turquoise, red, green, purple, and black, also led these types of ceramics to be called by the Persian term “haft rang,” or “seven colors.”
A central octagon with bands of white extending out of it marks the center of the bowl, and between each ray are stylized floral motifs in alternating turquoise and blue. The vines and floral motifs are highlighted with gilding, and the exterior body of the bowl features a faint naskhi inscription.For the latest information about this object, bowls (vessels), visit art.thewalters.org.Dynasty: Inscriptions: Reign: Style: