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Fragment of an Imported Chinese Bowl

late 7th–first half 8th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 453
Chinese ceramics were highly valued and commonly imitated in Nishapur. The Nishapur imitations took different forms: the whiteness of the Chinese porcelains led local potters to develop the opaque white glazes with which they covered their wares, while the three-color sancai Chinese imports led to the invention of splashware, made by dripping brown, yellow, and green glazes over their pots. This medallion from the base of a bowl, with the molded image of a dragon with a flaming jewel, is an example of an imported Chinese sancai ware object; its find at Nishapur is an important piece of evidence in the story of Nishapuri pottery development.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Fragment of an Imported Chinese Bowl
  • Date: late 7th–first half 8th century
  • Geography: Excavated in Iran, Nishapur. Made in China
  • Medium: Earthenware; applied relief medallion under three color (sancai) glaze
  • Dimensions: Diam. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1938
  • Object Number: 38.40.274
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

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Bowl with Green, Yellow, and Brown Splashed Decoration, Earthenware; white slip, incised and splashed with polychrome glazes under transparent glaze (sgraffito ware)
Bowl with Green, Yellow, and Brown Splashed Decoration
10th century
Animal-Spouted Pitcher, Earthenware; polychrome decoration under transparent glaze (buff ware)
Animal-Spouted Pitcher
9th–10th century
Lantern for a Lamp, Earthenware; carved decoration, unglazed
Lantern for a Lamp
9th–10th century
Bowl with Inscription, "Sovereignty is God's", Earthenware; white slip with black slip decoration under transparent glaze
Bowl with Inscription, "Sovereignty is God's"
late 9th–early 10th century
Bowl with Arabic Inscription, Earthenware; white slip with black-slip decoration under transparent glaze
Bowl with Arabic Inscription
10th century

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