Publication Date
late 12th-early 13th century (Seljuq (?))
Publication Place
-
The Walters Art Museum
Subject
Culture: | more | less
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Dimensions: Overall: 3 1/8 x 7 11/16 in. (7.9 x 19.6 cm)
Library
Digital Library of the Middle East
Library Asset ID
48.1043
Record ID
walters-30451
Library Location
The Walters Art Museum
Date
late 12th-early 13th century (Seljuq (?))
Notes
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 combination of leisurely activities with more warrior-like occupations, such as the hunt, was frequently used in the medieval Persian iconography of kingship. This is referred to as bazm wa razm, or feasting and fighting. These range of courtly activities can be seen in the decoration of this bowl, as two horsemen face each other while a female figure dances in the center. Their audience consists of four pairs of courtiers. The interior rim bears an inscription in kufic with benedictions to the owner.
For the latest information about this object, bowls (vessels), visit art.thewalters.org. | Dynasty: | Inscriptions: | Reign: | Style: | more | less
Parçası Olduğu
Islamic Art
Malzeme
fritware, white underglaze, black, blue, dark purple, pink, red, turquoise overglaze enamel, traces of gilding
