Central Asia
Bowl with Arabic Inscription
Created in Nishapur in the 10th century, this dish, formed in the epigraphic style characteristic to Samarkand and Nishapur, was created to be simple and elegant, consisting of simply black Kufic script against a background of white englobe. Created with earthenware, this bowl was painted in white slip for an effect similar to that of Chinese porcelain. The script around the rim that gives the dish its bold and distinctive denotes the proverb " Planning before work protects you from regret; Good luck and well-being." This secularized inscription of worldly wisdom made this form of pottery ideal for trade, appealing to customers of many religious backgrounds. Considering the non-religious nature of the décor, the size and workmanship of the platter this dish was "apparently destined primarily for customers in an urban milieu… made for a discriminating, educated clientele, probably urban middle class, such as wealthy merchants".
Bowl Inscribed with Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad and 'Ali ibn Abi Talib
This bowl was created in 10th Century Samarkand. With a style very similar to that of pottery created in Nishapur, it is quite easy to understand how many archaeologists were for decades unable to distinguish between various forms of pottery from Samarkand and Nishapur. This dish is ornamented with two concentric bands of Kufic script. The inner band painted in red underglaze is a quote from the prophet Muhammad, saying "Modesty is a branch of faith, and faith is in paradise". The outer inscription is a quote attributed to Ali ibn Abi Talib, the son-in-law of the prophet Muhammad, which says "Greed is a sign of poverty." Both of these quotes, without context and knowledge of the identities of the speakers, could be interpreted as secular universal truths.
Bowl with Pseudo-Inscriptional Design
This bowl was created in Central Asia in the 10th century. As the pottery techniques between Samarkand and Nishapur were so similar, it is difficult to determine the city of this work's origin. This is an example of lusterware made from potters' clay, and painted with white slip for a white background, similar to Chinese porcelain. Similar to the previous works from Nishapur and Samarkand, this bowl is ornamented with a band of what appears to be script in red pigment. In fact, this band of "text" is actually pseudoscript, manufactured to sell to those who were illiterate, or those that could not read Arabic. The existence of this type of pottery speaks to the demand for epigraphic pottery, in addition to the audiences that dishes similar to these were likely to encounter
Bowl with Concentric Bands
This bowl was created in the Samarkand in the 10th or 11th century. Containing a variety of different design elements, colors, and finishes, this dish is a fantastic example of how Medieval ceramics had been influenced by many styles and cultures.
Bowl with Harpies
This object is a bowl from 12th century Iran. The interior is decorated with two harpies, with tail feathers that form an arch above them, resembling a pluming arabesque design. A similar design ornaments the opposite side of the bowl. The exterior of the bowl is decorated with a band of Persian poetry in cursive script. Originating in Kashan, a major center of ceramic production during this period, this bowl boasts a white body created of a fabricated mixture of quartz an glass particles, a technique also originating in Kashan. This technique allowed for finer definition in drawing figures and the ability to implement a wider variety of pigments. We see here how the Chinese influence of porcelain still remains, and how different centers of ceramics innovated to achieve that aesthetic.