The Sasanian hero Bahram Gur, one of the most colorful figures in Persian epic literature, is depicted on this bowl riding a camel with one of his slaves, Azadeh, here shown playing the harp. To put his hunting prowess to the test, Azadeh asked Bahram Gur to pierce the leg and the ear of the gazelle with his arrow in one hit.
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Artwork Details
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Title:Bowl
Date:12th–13th century
Geography:Attributed to Iran
Medium:Stonepaste; overglaze painted, so-called "mina'i" ware
Dimensions:H. 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm) Diam. 8 3/8 in. (21.3 cm)
Classification:Ceramics
Credit Line:Purchase, Rogers Fund, and Gift of The Schiff Foundation, 1957
Object Number:57.36.14
Bowl
Figural designs as opposed to stylized vegetal ones seem to have been preferred by the decorators of the so-called mina'i pottery.
This particularly fine example bears a representation of one of the most popular tales in the Shahnama, as well as in one of the epic poems in the Khamseh of Nizami—the story of the king Bahram Gur and his favorite Azadeh. In the episode depicted, the king has risen to her challenge to pin the hind leg of his prey to its ear with one arrow. In the Shahnama, the tale ends with Azadeh being trampled by the camel after she has called the great marksman "Ahriman" (the Devil), while in the Khamseh her life is spared.
Marilyn jenkins in [Berlin 1981]
Inscription: - On interior rim in kufic script: al-dawla(?), opulence
- On interior, behind neck of camel: Bahram Gur
- On exterior: Persian verses
Inside part of one word is repeated many times in Kufic script:
الدو
The complete word is:
الدو[لة]
The name بهرام گور written inside the bowl is written in Naskhi script.
On the interior there is a Persian poem in Naskhi script.
On the exterior there is a Persian poem in Naskhi script as:
گیرم که ز جان [خـ]ـسته شرمت ناید [یا] زین دل در [تو] بسته شرمت ناید
برخاسته من با غم تو از سر خود تو با دگری نشسته شرمت ناید
A.Ghouchani, 2010
Marking: -Sticker on exterior: PERSIAN / EXHIBITION / NEW YORK / 1940 / SJ 3 -Sticker on exterior: I.I.L. / 43 / .85 -Sticker on exterior: 435 / AH099 -Sticker below base: 3
Mortimer L. Schiff, New York (by 1922–d. 1931); his son, John M. Schiff, New York (by 1940–57; sold and gifted to MMA)
Iranian Institute. "Exhibition of Persian Art," 1940, Gal. I, no. 27C.
Asia Society. "Iranian Ceramics," May 3, 1963–September 12, 1963, no. 62.
Berlin. Museum für Islamische Kunst, Pergamonmuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. "The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the M.M.A.," June 15, 1981–August 8, 1981, no. 30.
Paris. Musée du Louvre. "Louvre Long Term Loan," April 28, 2004–April 27, 2006, no catalogue.
London. Royal Academy of Arts. "Turks: A Journey of a Thousand Years, 600–1600," January 22, 2005–April 15, 2005, fig. 26.
Riefstahl, Rudolf M. Parish-Watson Collection of Mohammadan Potteries. New York: E. Weyhe, 1922. p. 41, ill. fig. 7.
Ackerman, Phyllis. "The Iranian Institute, New York." In Guide to the Exhibition of Persian Art. 2nd. ed. New York: Iranian Institute, 1940. Gallery I, case 27C, pp. 29, 32, ill. p. 32 (b/w).
Wilkinson, Charles K. Iranian Ceramics. New York: Asia House Gallery, 1963. no. 62, p. 132, ill. (b/w).
"Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York." In The Arts of Islam. Berlin, 1981. no. 30, pp. 90–91, ill. p. 91 (color).
Roxburgh, David J., ed. Turks . A Journey of a Thousand Years, 600–1600. London, New York: Royal Academy of Arts, 2005. p. 77, ill. fig. 26 (color).
Porter, Yves. "Arts and Archeology of the Islamic World." Under the Adorned Dome : Four Essays in the Arts of Iran and India vol. 19 (2023). pp. 75–77, ill. fig. 2.28.
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