Bowl with Black Foliate Arabesque and Pseudo-Inscription
Vessels12th-13th century

Bowl with Black Foliate Arabesque and Pseudo-Inscription

12th-13th century

Description

At the center of this bowl, a freely painted, leafy arabesque grows out of a six-lobed core. Around the walls a rhythmic pseudo-epigraphic band radiates upward, and triangular dabs of black ring the rim. On the exterior, willow-reed motifs alternate with pairs of tapering, vertical stripes. At some point in the past, this bowl was reassembled from fragments and overpainted to integrate the plaster fills. The turquoise glaze covers the interior and exterior, stopping well short of the foot ring, which has an unusual taper.

Classification
Vessels
Technique
Underglazed, painted
Medium
Fritware painted in black (chromium) under turquoise (copper) transparent alkali glaze
Period
Seljuk-Atabeg period
Century
12th-13th century
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Department
Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art

Dimensions

7.4 x 19.8 cm (2 15/16 x 7 13/16 in.)

Provenance

Stanford and Norma Jean Calderwood, Belmont, MA (by 1974-2002), gift; to Harvard Art Museums, 2002.

Related Artworks

View More
Stembowl with Scrolling Lotus Decor
Vessels
Stembowl with Scrolling Lotus Decor
Unknown Artist, mid 16th century

Porcelain with decoration painted in gold enamel over a red enamel ground added at a later date

16th centuryChinese
Cast of an Arretine Bowl Fragment in the Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Vessels
Cast of an Arretine Bowl Fragment in the Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Unknown Artist

Plaster

Circular Oil Drip Plate (Aburazara) with Decoration of Birds and Hayricks
Vessels
Circular Oil Drip Plate (Aburazara) with Decoration of Birds and Hayricks
Unknown Artist, Mid Edo period, circa 1720

Ceramic

18th centuryJapanese
Circular Oil Drip Plate (Aburazara) with Decoration of Bamboo Branch
Vessels
Circular Oil Drip Plate (Aburazara) with Decoration of Bamboo Branch
Unknown Artist, Mid Edo period, circa 1770

Ceramic

18th centuryJapanese
Deep Circular Bowl with Decoration of Three Parrots, Clouds, and Stylized Leaves
Vessels
Deep Circular Bowl with Decoration of Three Parrots, Clouds, and Stylized Leaves
Unknown Artist, first half 12th century

Incised celadon ware: light gray stoneware with celadon glaze over incised decoration

12th centuryKorean
WHITE ATTIC LEKYTHOS, OFFERING AT THE TOMB
Vessels
WHITE ATTIC LEKYTHOS, OFFERING AT THE TOMB
Unknown Artist
Greek
Cylindrical Tankard with Dragon-Form Handle and Decoration of a Riverscape with Islands, Pavilions, and Fishermen
Vessels
Cylindrical Tankard with Dragon-Form Handle and Decoration of a Riverscape with Islands, Pavilions, and Fishermen
Unknown Artist, c. late 18th century

Export blue-and-white ware: porcelain with decoration painted in underglaze cobalt blue

18th centuryChinese
Black-figure Neck Amphora
Vessels
Black-figure Neck Amphora
Unknown Artist, 530-520 BCE

Terracotta

6th century BCEGreek
Tall, Elongated Vase with Short Neck and Iron-Rust Glaze
Vessels
Tall, Elongated Vase with Short Neck and Iron-Rust Glaze
Unknown Artist, 19th century

Monochrome glazed porcelain: porcelain with dark brown glaze suffused with iridescent silvery flecks

19th centuryChinese
Sweetmeat Dish
Vessels
Sweetmeat Dish
Unknown Artist, c. 1200

Fritware painted with luster (copper and silver) over blue (cobalt) transparent alkali glaze and white lead alkali glaze opacified with tin

13th centuryPersian
Teapot
Vessels
Teapot
Abraham Buteux, 1722-1723

Silver, fruitwood

18th centuryBritish
Large Schnabelkane-type Jug
Vessels
Large Schnabelkane-type Jug
Unknown Artist, c. 3000 BCE-c. 2000 BCE

Terracotta, black to brown buff-ware

3rd millennium BCEAnatolian
Bowl with Black Foliate Arabesque and Pseudo-Inscription | Harvard Art Museums | KenAI