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Source Description

Mina’i is a modern collectors’ term for ceramics made in Iran during the late 12th to early 13th centuries. The term mina’i, translates as “enamelled” in Persian, designating the colored glass pigments used to paint detailed figural decoration on vessels or tiles, which were then fixed on the ceramic base by multiple firings. The use of a wide range of colors, including turquoise, red, green, purple, and black, also led these types of ceramics to be called by the Persian term “haft rang,” or “seven colors.”Mina’i ware scenes often depict courtly pursuits, such as feasting, fighting, or poetry and music performances. These colorful compositions created complex narrative scenes which paralleled manuscript painting. These colorful compositions created complex narrative scenes which paralleled manuscript painting. A central, mounted figure is surrounded by seated figures, placed around the interior curve of this footed bowl. The four pairs of seated figures are rendered in similar poses, separated by stylized floral patterns. A pseudo inscription adorns the exterior rim of the bowl.

Scholar Source Context

Document identity
localId
39910
label
Bowl with Seated Figures and Horseman
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
10
Source metadata
id
39910
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Bowl with Seated Figures and Horseman
description
Mina’i is a modern collectors’ term for ceramics made in Iran during the late 12th to early 13th centuries. The term mina’i, translates as “enamelled” in Persian, designating the colored glass pigments used to paint detailed figural decoration on vessels or tiles, which were then fixed on the ceramic base by multiple firings. The use of a wide range of colors, including turquoise, red, green, purple, and black, also led these types of ceramics to be called by the Persian term “haft rang,” or “seven colors.”Mina’i ware scenes often depict courtly pursuits, such as feasting, fighting, or poetry and music performances. These colorful compositions created complex narrative scenes which paralleled manuscript painting. These colorful compositions created complex narrative scenes which paralleled manuscript painting. A central, mounted figure is surrounded by seated figures, placed around the interior curve of this footed bowl. The four pairs of seated figures are rendered in similar poses, separated by stylized floral patterns. A pseudo inscription adorns the exterior rim of the bowl.
provenance
Dikran Kelekian, New York and Paris, [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1929, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
late 12th-early 13th century (Seljuq (?))
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
bowls (vessels)
imageCount
10
pageCount
10
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
8.3
height
19.1
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 3 1/4 x 7 1/2 in. (8.3 x 19.1 cm)
Source extras
med
fritware, turquoise underglaze, black, blue, red, and white overglaze enamel, traces of gilding
creator_ids
6768
collection_ids
none
exhibition_ids
none
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