Fragment of Sagger and Bowl

Unknown

probably 8th–12th century · Earthenware; glazed · Islamic Art

This fragment was excavated in Nishapur in the 1940s. It was subsequently acquired by the Museum through a division of finds with the Iranian government at the time. It is a purple-glazed stonepaste vessel that is attached to an earthenware sagger, a mishap that must have occurred during the firing process. As such, it offers important evidence for the manufacturing techniques of stonepaste vessels in Nishapur. Saggers are protective fireclay vessels that enclose ceramic ware during firing. The technique is well known in Eastern Asian ceramic productions, while in Iran it is so far only attested for among stonepaste vessels and appears to be absent in Syrian stonepaste manufacture.

Artist

Unknown

Date

probably 8th–12th century

Medium

Earthenware; glazed

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1948