Pear-Shaped Bottle with Birds

Unknown

17th century · Stonepaste; polychrome painted under transparent glaze · Islamic Art

Like so many ceramics produced in Iran during the Safavid period, the style and decoration of this bottle demonstrates an attempt to emulate the highly-regarded Chinese porcelain. Vegetal forms akin to lotus flowers, and the use of underglaze blue and white indicate the Chinese influences. The vessel's weighty shape is charmingly equated with the rotund pot-bellies of the birds.

Artist

Unknown

Date

17th century

Medium

Stonepaste; polychrome painted under transparent glaze

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of William B. Osgood Field, 1902