This exceptional bowl is made of earthenware
and features a red slip ground with black,
and white slip painted
decoration. The central scrolling motif is within a
large six pointed star that covers the majority of
the bowl. Throughout the remaining space,
unusual stylized leaves and foliage are
highlighted by the use of “yellow staining” black
pigment that exudes its golden hues under
firing. The entire bowl would have been under a
transparent glaze. The beautiful contrast of the
colors gives the effect of a bejeweled
masterpiece replete with gold gilding. The Khalili
collection has a large bowl which it attributes to
the production centers of Samarqand and
Transoxiana. The bowl has a somewhat similar
geometric shape at the heart of its central
medallion. (Earnst J. Grube, Cobalt and Lustre,
Bowl 109. Accession No. POT805).
While there is no religious meaning behind the
shapes which decorate this outstanding bowl,
Geza Fehervari, in his catalogue of the Tareq
Rajab Museum in Kuwait, notes that pieces have
been found, one of which is a jug in the
collection (No. 50 CER94TSR), decorated with
what appears to be Hebrew lettering. During the
School of Oriental and African Studies’(University
of London) excavations at Ghubayra in Kirman
province shards with Hebrew lettering were also
found. This may imply that of the large Jewish
communities known to have been living in
Nishapur, as well as many other Iranian towns,
some of them may have been artisans and
potters.
Based on the distinctive vivid colors, style and
design of this outstanding bowl, we can attribute
it to originating from Nishapur, eastern Iran. (See
Charles K.Wilkinson, Nishapur: Pottery of the
Early Islamic Period, Metropolitan Museum of
Art, New York,1973; ch.5 nos 19-23). The use of
the “yellow-staining black” pigment also allies it
to another Nishapuri ware (Section Gd). The
simple but effective repetitive design and the use
of dotted bands anticipate later regional Iranian
slipwares, particularly Sari ware.
For other comparable pieces see Oliver Watson,
Ceramics from Islamic Lands, cataloging the Al-
Sabah Collection in the Kuwait National Museum,
2004. Cat. GB.14 Bowl.
Also, Geza Fehervari, Ceramics of the Islamic
World in the Tareq Rajab Museum, No.60.
CERII9TSR.
