'Seljuk-White' Dish - AMD.82, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 3.1" (7.9cm) high x 5.9" (15.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk,  More »

'Seljuk-White' Dish - AMD.82, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 3.1" (7.9cm) high x 5.9" (15.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Seljuk, Medium: Fritware/Composite. The so called Seljuq White-wares were very popular in Iran in the 12th and 13th Centuries and were made of composite white clear glazed fritware in Bamiyan as well as other locations. This is a Bamiyan type bowl molded with a central arabesque figure, intricately decorated with mottled and scrolling designs throughout the bowl. It has straight flaring sides on a low footring. The inside of the bowl is decorated with a generous draping design that follows through all the way around the rim and down the sides of the bowl in manganese purple, and three festive vertical splashes in a beautiful green-blue color from the mouth to the bottom of the bowl. There is a final purple flourish at the center of this highly unusual molded vessel. This piece shows striking color and form very much in line with the Bamiyan style. These fritwares form a distinct group of pottery, unified by their fabric, shapes techniques of making and decorating and their motifs. Bamiyan frit tends to be very fragile with numerous fire cracks; their method of making, with molded ornament in relief on the interior of small bowls; and in the designs themselves, linear in character, which has not been paralleled closely on any other type of wares. During the manufacturing process, they were stacked on tripods which left distinctive scars on the inside of the bowls.   « Less

Nishapur 'Buffware' Bowl - AMD.85, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 3.5" (8.9cm) high x 8.4" (21.3cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Nishapur 'Buffware' Bowl - AMD.85, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 3.5" (8.9cm) high x 8.4" (21.3cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Nishapur Ware, Medium: Buff Earthenware. These early Islamic polychrome wares are among the most extraordinary of medieval ceramics, particularly for the verve and animation of the abstract designs they display and the vibrancy of their bold colors. From the lack of significant discoveries elsewhere it would appear that the so called Nishapur “Buff" or Polychrome Wares are specifically attributable to Nishapur. Very few such wares have been discovered elsewhere and the designs of those that have been found are very limited. The artistry reveals some influence of early monochrome luster painted pottery. This type is characterized by the yellow colored ground slip over which the dense decoration is painted in polychrome.   « Less

Bamiyan Glazed Bowl - AMD.86, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3.3" (8.4cm) high x 6.5" (16.5cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Bamiyan,  More »

Bamiyan Glazed Bowl - AMD.86, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3.3" (8.4cm) high x 6.5" (16.5cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Bamiyan, Medium: Fritware. These Turquoise glazed molded wares form a distinct group of pottery, unified by their fabric, shapes, techniques of making and decorating and their motifs. These wares are made in molds many examples of which have been excavated at very well preserved sites complete with intact kilns. They show ornament in relief on the interior of small bowls. During the manufacturing process, the bowls were generally stacked on tripods which usually left distinctive scars on the inside of the bowls. What distinguishes this bowl is the lack of any such marks and the decorative and structural perfection of this piece. This bowl is decorated with the image of a stylized lion or similar wild cat. He has a fearsome face and is clearly roaring. A powerful paw extends beneath him and propels him around the bowl. One can also clearly make out his rear leg and tail. Where the first lion ends the same image is repeated across the second half of the bowl. The top edge of the bowl is decorated with strikes of purple glaze.   « Less

Glazed Pottery Bowl - AMD.151, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3" (7.6cm) high x 7.3" (18.5cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Glazed  More »

Glazed Pottery Bowl - AMD.151, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3" (7.6cm) high x 7.3" (18.5cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Glazed Pottery.   « Less

Bamiyan Glazed Bowl - AMD.152, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3.7" (9.4cm) high x 6.2" (15.7cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Bamiyan,  More »

Bamiyan Glazed Bowl - AMD.152, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3.7" (9.4cm) high x 6.2" (15.7cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Bamiyan, Medium: Fritware. These Turquoise glazed molded wares form a distinct group of pottery, unified by their fabric, shapes, techniques of making and decorating and their motifs. These wares are made in molds many examples of which have been excavated at very well preserved sites complete with intact kilns. They show ornament in relief on the interior of small bowls. During the manufacturing process, the bowls were stacked on tripods which left distinctive scars on the inside of the bowls. The center of this bowl is decorated with an enlarged version of the same decoration that is repeated around the body of the bowl. Two inversed “S” shaped scrolls are contained within a circle and separated by a vertical line. The top edge of the bowl is decorated with purple glaze at its mouth.   « Less

Nishapur Calligraphic Bowl - AMD.153, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 3.5" (8.9cm) high x 7.7" (19.6cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Nishapur Calligraphic Bowl - AMD.153, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 3.5" (8.9cm) high x 7.7" (19.6cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Nishapur Ware, Medium: Buff Earthenware.   « Less

Bamiyan Glazed Bowl - AMD.154, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3.3" (8.4cm) high x 6.5" (16.5cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Bamiyan,  More »

Bamiyan Glazed Bowl - AMD.154, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3.3" (8.4cm) high x 6.5" (16.5cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Bamiyan, Medium: Fritware, Condition: Very Fine.   « Less

Nishapur Slip Painted Bowl - AMD.155, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 3.3" (8.4cm) high x 6.3" (16.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Nishapur Slip Painted Bowl - AMD.155, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 3.3" (8.4cm) high x 6.3" (16.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Nishapur Ware, Medium: Buff Earthenware. The occurrence of bird imagery in this age of pottery is not uncommon however the anthropomorphic nature of this illustration is most unusual and has a mythical or legendary quality possibly invoking historic Sassanian or Zoroastrian imagery where the image of the bird such as the “Simorgh” played various important roles. The bird depicted here poses standing upright on her two legs, with her head gently lowered and her body and wings are in the shape of palmettes are all visible in the image. A very similar illustration exists on a bowl which is reportedly from Maimana in the Al-Sabah Collection, in Kuwait. That example is in polychrome; see Oliver Watson, Ceramics from Islamic Lands, cataloging the Al-Sabah Collection in the Kuwait National Museum, 2004. p.233.   « Less

Slip Painted Earthenware Dish - AMD.161, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 2.5" (6.4cm) high x 6.1" (15.5cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium:  More »

Slip Painted Earthenware Dish - AMD.161, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 2.5" (6.4cm) high x 6.1" (15.5cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Glazed Earthenware.   « Less

Bamiyan Glazed Bowl - AMD.162, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 2.3" (5.8cm) high x 5" (12.7cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Bamiyan,  More »

Bamiyan Glazed Bowl - AMD.162, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 2.3" (5.8cm) high x 5" (12.7cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Bamiyan, Medium: Fritware. These Turquoise glazed molded wares form a distinct group of pottery, unified by their fabric, shapes, techniques of making and decorating and their motifs. These wares are made in molds many examples of which have been excavated at very well preserved sites complete with intact kilns. They show ornament in relief on the interior of small bowls. During the manufacturing process, the bowls were stacked on tripods which left distinctive scars on the inside of the bowls. This bowl is decorated with a repetitive scrolling pattern and distinguished by its beautiful iridescence.   « Less