Plate

Unknown

10th century · Earthenware; white slip with black slip decoration under transparent glaze · Islamic Art

The elegant kufic calligraphy on this plate demonstrates how calligraphy alone can be used to achieve a strong visual effect. The contrast between black letters and opaque white ground intensifies the impact of the simply yet elegant decoration. The Arabic inscription, the beginning and end of which are indicated by a bell-shaped design, is a phrase that was used on other pottery from Nishapur: "Knowledge is an ornament to youth and intelligence is a crown of gold in paradise. Blessing." Pottery with such phrases serves as a compendium of Arabic proverbs from this period.

Artist

Unknown

Date

10th century

Medium

Earthenware; white slip with black slip decoration under transparent glaze

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1967