Opaque Turquoise Glazed Jug - LO.639, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Fritware.

Opaque Turquoise Glazed Jug - LO.639, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 12 th Century AD to 13 th Century AD, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Fritware.   « Less

Early Islamic Polychrome Jug - LO.714, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 7.75" (19.7cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Splashed Ware, Medium:  More »

Early Islamic Polychrome Jug - LO.714, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 7.75" (19.7cm) high, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Splashed Ware, Medium: Earthenware, Globular jug with straight ringed neck and thick cordoned curved handle. The surface painted with vertical brush strokes in brown, green and ochre underglaze. It has been assumed for a long time that the so- called splashed ware of the Near East were manufactured under Tang Chinese influence. Yet that would have been extremely hard since Tang sancai ware was considered a funerary ware and thus hardly exported beyond the Chinese soil. Also, recently, similar green-splashed ceramics have been excavated from the pre-Islamic site of Qaryat al-Fau in Saudi Arabia which would further suggest an entirely independent development. However, the debate is still open and no definite evidence has come both ways For a discussion on the influence of Chinese sancai ware on splashed ware see: Rawson, Tite and Hugh, 'The export of Tang sancai ware: some recent research" , TOCS, 52, 1987-88, 39-61.   « Less

Inscribed with magic texts, these bowls were used to ward off evil spirits and protect family and property. Unearthed at relatively high levels of excavation, they were  More »

Inscribed with magic texts, these bowls were used to ward off evil spirits and protect family and property. Unearthed at relatively high levels of excavation, they were neglected by the nineteenth century pioneers of Mesopotamian archaeology who were more interested in discovering palace foundations and large-scale sculpture. In more recent years however their importance has been recognised and they have been studied in-depth.The incantations were written in a variety of Aramaic dialects including Jewish Aramaic, Mandaic and Syriac. There are also examples written in Pseudo-script, presumably by less literate scribes. Although the texts are not dated they are generally assigned to the late Sassanian/ early Islamic period (6th-8th century A.D.). Their main function was to trap evil spirits and they were often placed upside down at the corners of rooms, or built into foundations or cemeteries. The texts sometimes instruct them to be placed ‘at the four corners (of the room)’ for extra protection. The names of the clients for whom the bowls were made can be divided into two main categories- Semitic and Persian. However this is not always a reliable guide to their ethnicity. Jewish influence on the Mandaic inscriptions was minimal but is pronounced in the Aramaic incantations. Many of the scribes may have been Jewish or trained by Jews, and the Hebrew Bible is frequently quoted.   « Less

Early Islamic Slip-Painted Bowl - JB.1005, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 4.9" (12.4cm) wide, Collection: Islamic, Style: Early  More »

Early Islamic Slip-Painted Bowl - JB.1005, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 4.9" (12.4cm) wide, Collection: Islamic, Style: Early Islamic, Medium: Earthenware.   « Less

Inscribed with magic texts, these bowls were used to ward off evil spirits and protect family and property. Unearthed at relatively high levels of excavation, they were  More »

Inscribed with magic texts, these bowls were used to ward off evil spirits and protect family and property. Unearthed at relatively high levels of excavation, they were neglected by the nineteenth century pioneers of Mesopotamian archaeology who were more interested in discovering palace foundations and large-scale sculpture. In more recent years however their importance has been recognised and they have been studied in-depth.The incantations were written in a variety of Aramaic dialects including Jewish Aramaic, Mandaic and Syriac. There are also examples written in Pseudo-script, presumably by less literate scribes. Although the texts are not dated they are generally assigned to the late Sassanian/ early Islamic period (6th-8th century A.D.). Their main function was to trap evil spirits and they were often placed upside down at the corners of rooms, or built into foundations or cemeteries. The texts sometimes instruct them to be placed ‘at the four corners (of the room)’ for extra protection. The names of the clients for whom the bowls were made can be divided into two main categories- Semitic and Persian. However this is not always a reliable guide to their ethnicity. Jewish influence on the Mandaic inscriptions was minimal but is pronounced in the Aramaic incantations. Many of the scribes may have been Jewish or trained by Jews, and the Hebrew Bible is frequently quoted.   « Less

Glazed Earthenware Bowl - GD.009, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 11 th Century AD to 12 th Century AD, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Glazed Earthenware.

Glazed Earthenware Bowl - GD.009, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 11 th Century AD to 12 th Century AD, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Glazed Earthenware.   « Less

The incantations were written in a variety of Aramaic dialects including Jewish Aramaic, Mandaic and Syriac. There are also examples written in Pseudo-script, presumably by  More »

The incantations were written in a variety of Aramaic dialects including Jewish Aramaic, Mandaic and Syriac. There are also examples written in Pseudo-script, presumably by less literate scribes. Although the texts are not dated they are generally assigned to the late Sassanian/ early Islamic period (6th-8th century A.D.). Their main function was to trap evil spirits and they were often placed upside down at the corners of rooms, or built into foundations or cemeteries. The texts sometimes instruct them to be placed ‘at the four corners (of the room)’ for extra protection. The names of the clients for whom the bowls were made can be divided into two main categories- Semitic and Persian. However this is not always a reliable guide to their ethnicity. Jewish influence on the Mandaic inscriptions was minimal but is pronounced in the Aramaic incantations. Many of the scribes may have been Jewish or trained by Jews, and the Hebrew Bible is frequently quoted. Terracotta Incantation Bowl - SP.435 Origin: Mesopotamia Circa: 500 AD to 800 ADDimensions: 3.25" (8.3cm) high x7.25(18.4cm)depth Collection:Near Eastern Art Medium: Terracotta   « Less

Incised Kashan Green Glazed Bowl - GD.010, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3.3" (8.4cm) high x 7.1" (18.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art,  More »

Incised Kashan Green Glazed Bowl - GD.010, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3.3" (8.4cm) high x 7.1" (18.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Kashan, Medium: Glazed Earthenware. By the 12th century, an almost revolutionary step had been taken in the pottery production of the Near East. The new body material, known as fritware was introduced in the region, either direct from Egypt or Syria. The beginning of the production of these wares borrowed elements from Chinese porcelain. Eventually, Iranian potters began to exploit coloured glazes and developed a wide range of shapes and motifs that owed nothing to China, Kashan was the main centre, producing wares of the highest quality, although evidence does point to the fact that wares of this period were also produced in different regions.   « Less

Nishapur Slip-Painted Calligraphic Bowl - GD.011, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 10 th Century AD, Dimensions: 3.9" (9.9cm) high x 13.1" (33.3cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art,  More »

Nishapur Slip-Painted Calligraphic Bowl - GD.011, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 10 th Century AD, Dimensions: 3.9" (9.9cm) high x 13.1" (33.3cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Nishapur, Medium: Earthenware, Nishapur began to assume some major influence from the mid-ninth century A.D., becoming in the tenth through twelfth centuries one of the great political, commercial, and cultural centres in Central Asia and the Islamic world. Nishapur was well situated along the Silk Road across which goods were exchanged between the Far and Near East.   « Less

Nishapur Slip-Painted Calligraphic Bowl - GD.012, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 10 th Century AD, Dimensions: 4.1" (10.4cm) high x 9.8" (24.9cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art,  More »

Nishapur Slip-Painted Calligraphic Bowl - GD.012, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 10 th Century AD, Dimensions: 4.1" (10.4cm) high x 9.8" (24.9cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Nishapur, Medium: Earthenware.   « Less