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Bowl with Bahram Gur and Azada

late 12th–early 13th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 453
Bahram Gur, challenged by his concubine Azada in a series of dares to show his mastery in archery, here pins together with a single arrow the ear and hoof of a gazelle, while Azada plays the harp. The tragic epilogue of this story from the Persian epic Shahnama, in which a camel tramples Azada after she disparages the prince for his cruel feats, is portrayed at the bottom of the bowl. This popular episode was depicted on ceramics and metalware.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Bowl with Bahram Gur and Azada
  • Date: late 12th–early 13th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Iran, probably Kashan
  • Medium: Stonepaste; glazed (opaque monochrome), in-glaze- and overglaze-painted, gilded
  • Dimensions: H. 3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm)
    Diam. 8 11/16 in. (22.1 cm)
    Wt. 15.3 oz. (433.8 g)
  • Classification: Ceramics
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Rogers Fund, and Gift of The Schiff Foundation, 1957
  • Object Number: 57.36.2
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

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Pierced Jug with Harpies and Sphinxes, Stonepaste; openwork, underglaze-painted, glazed in transparent turquoise
Pierced Jug with Harpies and Sphinxes
dated 612 AH/1215–16 CE
Turquoise Bowl with Lute Player and Audience, Stonepaste; glazed (opaque monochrome), in-glaze- and overglaze-painted, gilded
Turquoise Bowl with Lute Player and Audience
late 12th–early 13th century
Tile from an Inscriptional Frieze, Stonepaste; modeled, overglaze painted, and gilded (lajvardina)
Tile from an Inscriptional Frieze
early 14th century
Bowl with Deer and Phoenix Motifs, Stonepaste; blue and black painted under transparent glaze (Sultanabad ware)
Bowl with Deer and Phoenix Motifs
first half 14th century
Black and Blue Painted Bowl, Stonepaste; polychrome painted under transparent glaze
Black and Blue Painted Bowl
early 13th century

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