The incised wares of Eastern Ancient Iran
(present day Afghanistan) have only emerged in
fairly recent archeological publications. They
represent a very widespread and diverse
manufacture. This dish resembles those first
reported from the site of Bamiyan (see Gardin,
1957; especially pls 2-3).
This vivacious earthenware bowl has decoration
incised (hence “Sgraffiato”) through a white slip,
with lively splashes of brown and green color
under a transparent glaze. The decoration gives
a warm ethnic energy to the piece. This beautiful
and spirited bowl is most unusual in the
benedictory inscription incised around the inside
of the bowl.
For comparable examples see Oliver Watson,
Ceramics from Islamic Lands, cataloging the Al-
Sabah Collection in the Kuwait National Museum,
2004.
Also Earnst J. Grube, Cobalt and Lustre, The
Nasser D. Khallili Collection of Islamic Art, 1994.
