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

Slip Painted Nishapur Jug - AMD.143, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 5.7" (14.5cm) high x 5.1" (13.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Slip Painted Nishapur Jug - AMD.143, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 5.7" (14.5cm) high x 5.1" (13.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Nishapur Ware, Medium: Buff Earthenware, Condition: Extra Fine. The first indigenous Muslim dynasty to rule Iran following the Arab conquest, the Samanid Dynasty was founded in 819 A.D. by Saman- Khuda, a Persian vassal of the Abbasid Empire. However, not until the reign of Saman-Khuda’s great-grandson, Ismail I (892-907 A.D.), did Samanid power become extensive, eventually spreading outside of Iran and into Central Asia. The coins of the Samanids were used throughout North Asia, revealing their enormous influence on the region. Today, the Samanid Dynasty is renown as a time of cultural flourishing, especially in regards to the arts of poetry and pottery. The capital of Bukhara was also one of the cultural centers of the empire, along with the cities of Samarkand and Nishapur. Perhaps their most important influence on Islamic art was the Samanid innovation of slip painting that allowed for more refined, controlled glazed decorations on terracotta vessels and tiles. The Samanid Dynasty was a period of nationalism, where the Persian people regained power from the hands of foreign invaders. While Samanid power gradually waned throughout the 10th century in response to the rise of Turkic power in Central Asia and Afghanistan, during their rule the foundations of a native Iranian Islamic culture were firmly established.   « Less

Slip Painted Nishapur Jug - AMD.144, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 7" (17.8cm) high x 6.1" (15.5cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Slip Painted Nishapur Jug - AMD.144, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 900 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 7" (17.8cm) high x 6.1" (15.5cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Nishapur Ware, Medium: Buff Earthenware, Condition: Extra Fine. Many Samanid slipwares are decorated with abstract designs such as the ovals around the body and pseudo glyphs on the neck of this early and rare jug. Later examples sport palmettes and scrolls. The technical and artistic quality, in the crispness of execution and sureness of placing are noteworthy even on this more primitive example. This magnificent earthenware jug, which reflects a simpler decoration, exerts as much charm as any other one might see from a later more sophisticated time. It features a white slip with black, olive, white and red slip decoration under a transparent glaze.   « Less

Green Glazed Dish with Moulded Ram Heads - AMD.145, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 3.7" (9.4cm) high x 6.7" (17.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic  More »

Green Glazed Dish with Moulded Ram Heads - AMD.145, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 3.7" (9.4cm) high x 6.7" (17.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Glazed Earthenware.   « Less

Slip Painted Dish - AMD.146, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 1.8" (4.6cm) high x 5.3" (13.5cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Glazed  More »

Slip Painted Dish - AMD.146, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 1.8" (4.6cm) high x 5.3" (13.5cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Glazed Earthenware.   « Less

Slip Painted Bowl with Inscription - AMD.147, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 3.5" (8.9cm) high x 8.2" (20.8cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art,  More »

Slip Painted Bowl with Inscription - AMD.147, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 3.5" (8.9cm) high x 8.2" (20.8cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Medium: Glazed Earthenware.   « Less

Kashan Incised and Pierced Bowl - AMD.148, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3.1" (7.9cm) high x 6.8" (17.3cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art,  More »

Kashan Incised and Pierced Bowl - AMD.148, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1100 AD to 1300 AD, Dimensions: 3.1" (7.9cm) high x 6.8" (17.3cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Kashan, Medium: Fritware. This style of bowl was a standard product of the Iranian fritware industry and similar pieces were probably made at a number of different centers. The shape is one encountered in Kashan monumental style lustres that can be dated to the last decades of the 12th Century, but continued to be used later both at Kashan and at regional centers. This style of bowl relies on the good color of glaze that the frit body enables, and the effective though simple technique of incising and piercing the bowl. The holes are pierced when the body is in a “leather-hard” state, and the perforations are filled with glaze during the firing, leaving transparent shimmering and glimmering windows. First seen in Iran in the late 12th century, it predates the Chinese use of similar decoration by several centuries.   « Less

Kashan Lustre Jug - AMD.149, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1000 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 9.8" (24.9cm) high x 5.9" (15.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: 'Monumental  More »

Kashan Lustre Jug - AMD.149, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 1000 AD to 1200 AD, Dimensions: 9.8" (24.9cm) high x 5.9" (15.0cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: 'Monumental Style' Kashan, Medium: Fritware, Condition: Extra Fine.   « 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. Terracotta Incantation Bowl - LO.763Origin: Mesopotamia Circa: 500 AD to 800 ADDimensions: 2.5 " (6.4cm) high x 6.9 " (17.5cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern medium: Terracotta   « Less

Slip Painted Earthenware Jug - AMD.169, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 6.1" (15.5cm) high x 5.7" (14.5cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style:  More »

Slip Painted Earthenware Jug - AMD.169, Origin: Central Asia, Circa: 800 AD to 1000 AD, Dimensions: 6.1" (15.5cm) high x 5.7" (14.5cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Islamic, Medium: Earthenware, Condition: Extra Fine. The eastern Iranian slipwares to which category this jug belongs, were first collected from the old city of Samarqand, and were identified as Afrasiyab pottery; later the American excavations at Nishapur discovered similar types, and this site became the focus of attention. The East Iranian slip tradition was underway by the end of the 9th century and declined into the 11th century. The ambiguity of sparse archeological data undermines conclusions previously made about the various styles and quality of decoration found in this genre but probably at the heart of it was the existence of differentiated commercial markets and social groupings each with their own ideological and cultural backgrounds, for which supplies were commissioned.   « Less