Pierced Blue Pot with Animals and Vegetal Scroll

Unknown

last quarter 11th or 12th century · Stonepaste; carved and pierced under transparent monochrome glaze · Islamic Art

Archaeological evidence reveals that carved and pierced vessels with a monochrome glaze are among the earliest stonepaste wares produced in Iran. They were produced already in the last quarter of the 11th century, in a range of new shapes and forms. Some of them, like lobed bowls, animal-shaped spouts and jug-like ewers, became common forms used for luster and mina’i objects; others, like this sub-globular vessel, were used distinctively for monochrome wares. Before being glazed in blue, the object was carved. It features a main band of walking quadrupeds in sequence, such as a dog, a feline, a boar (?), and a fox (?). These creatures were associated with the hunt, one of the chief royal pastimes in both Iranian and Central Asian territories.

Artist

Unknown

Date

last quarter 11th or 12th century

Medium

Stonepaste; carved and pierced under transparent monochrome glaze

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1912