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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. This footed beaker’s exterior features a pattern of nine seated figures, a few of which are playing instruments for a seated audience. A band of geometric leave shapes marks the lower register, and a pseudo kufic inscription encircles both the interior and exterior rims of the beaker.

Scholar Source Context

Document identity
localId
14975
label
Beaker with Seated Figures
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
7
Source metadata
id
14975
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Beaker with Seated Figures
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. This footed beaker’s exterior features a pattern of nine seated figures, a few of which are playing instruments for a seated audience. A band of geometric leave shapes marks the lower register, and a pseudo kufic inscription encircles both the interior and exterior rims of the beaker.
provenance
Dikran Kelekian, Paris and New York, [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
Ceramics
goblets
beakers (vessels)
imageCount
7
pageCount
7
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
10.6
height
11
dimensionsRaw
H: 4 3/16 x Diam: 4 5/16 in. (10.6 x 11 cm)
Source extras
med
fritware, turquoise underglaze, black, blue, dark green, red, and white overglaze enamel, with traces of gilding
creator_ids
6747
collection_ids
ISL
exhibition_ids
548
Page inventory
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photo
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photo
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