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Plate Depicting a Flowering Bush in Two-Toned Luster

9th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 451
A highly stylized, flowering bush fills the center of this plate, its blooming flowers scattered over the surface of the plate in a pattern recalling mosaics or millefiori glass. The word mulk ("sovereignty") repeats in kufic around the flat rim, possibly as an abbreviation of the common calligraphic saying al-mulk lillah ("sovereignty belongs to God").

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Plate Depicting a Flowering Bush in Two-Toned Luster
  • Date: 9th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Iraq, probably Basra
  • Medium: Earthenware; luster-painted on opaque white glaze
  • Dimensions: H. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm)
    Diam. of rim: 16 in. (40.6 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1976
  • Object Number: 1976.309
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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Bowl Emulating Chinese Stoneware, Earthenware; painted in blue on opaque white glaze
Bowl Emulating Chinese Stoneware
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Armorial Plate (tondino): The story of King Midas, Nicola da Urbino Italian, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
Armorial Plate (tondino): The story of King Midas
Nicola da Urbino
ca. 1520–25
Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript, Ink and gold on parchment
Folio from a Qur'an Manuscript
late 9th–early 10th century
Bowl with Two Facing Peacocks, Earthenware; luster-painted on opaque white glaze
Bowl with Two Facing Peacocks
second–third quarter 10th century
Plate (tondino), Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), Italian, probably Faenza
Plate (tondino)
Italian, probably Faenza
ca. 1530

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