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Imitation Blue-and-White Bowl

17th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 462
Like so many ceramics produced in Iran during the Safavid period, the style and decoration of this dish shows an attempt to emulate the highly-regarded Chinese porcelain. This is illustrated by the blue and white color scheme, as well as the distinctly Chinese imagery of pagoda structures and figures wearing local dress. Moreover, there is an imitation Chinese seal-mark on the base, which in Chinese porcelain would have indicated the dynasty and Emperor. That Iranian potters included this detail indicates the great lengths to which they went to make their wares comparable to the Chinese originals.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Imitation Blue-and-White Bowl
  • Date: 17th century
  • Geography: Made in Iran, possibly Mashhad
  • Medium: Stonepaste; painted in blue under transparent glaze
  • Dimensions: H. 7 1/2 in. (19.1 cm)
    Diam. 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Nellie Kuh, by exchange, Louis V. Bell Fund, and funds from various donors, 1967
  • Object Number: 67.108
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

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Dish with Two Fighting Lions, Stonepaste; incised and painted under transparent glaze
Dish with Two Fighting Lions
ca. 1635
Bowl with Pagodas and Landscape Elements, Stonepaste; painted under transparent glaze
Bowl with Pagodas and Landscape Elements
18th century
Dish with Two Intertwined Dragons, Stonepaste; painted in blue under transparent glaze
Dish with Two Intertwined Dragons
ca. 1640
Garden Gathering, Stonepaste; painted and polychrome glazed (cuerda seca technique)
Garden Gathering
1640–50
Dish with Three Lions, Stonepaste; polychrome painted under transparent glaze
Dish with Three Lions
18th century

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