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Source Description
During the Ilkhanid period, decorative motifs from China were adopted into Persian art, including dragons, phoenixes, and lotus blossoms, which are seen on this bowl. Lotus blossoms were easily integrated into the existing tradition of floral and vegetal elements in Islamic art, while the phoenix was equated with the <em>simurgh</em>, a mythical bird known from the epic Persian poem the <em>Shahnameh</em>, or <em>Book of Kings</em>. The white slip designs on a gray background are typical of these wares, while the flat rim is influenced by Chinese vessels. This type of pottery was widely exported, and possibly imitated, as it has been found in excavations from Central Asia to Egypt.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
95046
label
Bowl with Flying Birds
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
95046
contentType
object
title
Bowl with Flying Birds
description
During the Ilkhanid period, decorative motifs from China were adopted into Persian art, including dragons, phoenixes, and lotus blossoms, which are seen on this bowl. Lotus blossoms were easily integrated into the existing tradition of floral and vegetal elements in Islamic art, while the phoenix was equated with the <em>simurgh</em>, a mythical bird known from the epic Persian poem the <em>Shahnameh</em>, or <em>Book of Kings</em>. The white slip designs on a gray background are typical of these wares, while the flat rim is influenced by Chinese vessels. This type of pottery was widely exported, and possibly imitated, as it has been found in excavations from Central Asia to Egypt.
date
1280–1400
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60755865
genreSpecific
Ceramic
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 11.2 x 22 cm (4 7/16 x 8 11/16 in.)
cul
Iran, probably Kashan, Ilkhanid period (1256–1353)
accession
1915.589
Source extras
tec
Fritware with underglaze-painted design, Sultanabad ware
tombstone
Bowl with Flying Birds, 1280–1400. Iran, probably Kashan, Ilkhanid period (1256–1353). Fritware with underglaze-painted design, Sultanabad ware; overall: 11.2 x 22 cm (4 7/16 x 8 11/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust, 1915.589
collection
Islamic Art
didYouKnow
This bowl was made after the Mongol conquest of Iran in the 13th century.
citations
citation
Charleston, Robert Jesse. 1979. <em>Masterpieces of western and near eastern ceramics. Vol. 4 Vol. 4</em>. New York: distributed by Kodansha International/USA through Harper & Row.
page_number
Plate 55
citation
Allan, James W. 1991. <em>Islamic ceramics</em>. Oxford: Christie's.
page_number
Reproduced: p. 35; Mentioned: p. 34
creditline
Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:04:31.832000
sourceId
95046
dept
Islamic Art
coll
Islamic Art
med
Fritware with underglaze-painted design, Sultanabad ware
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
921217df5d409dec