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Bulb-shaped bottle fragment

Iranian

Artwork Details

Bulb-shaped bottle fragment
17th century
Iranian
earthenware with glaze
7 x 5 x 5 ½ in. (19.05 x 13.97 x 13.97 cm);8 ½ in. (21.59 cm);7 3/4 in. (19.69 cm);7 3/4 in. (19.69 cm)
Museum purchase
1957/1.83

Description

Subject Matter:

See physical description. 

Physical Description:

This fragment was possibly a waster since it does not have a firm base, nor does the glaze complement or enhance the faint design painted underneath. The first band of spiked forms immediately below the borken neck seems closer to the later 16th century Chinese derivatives. The second band is a Persian adaptation of numerous related designs which hang down from a border or protrude up from a base line. This border may be compared to the floral patterns on Kirman ceramics--the combination of narrow vines or stems and large leaf forms. The unusual effect of the glaze may be a common error in the firing of an iron based dull green glaze used for the Kirmani 'celadon'. It therefore seems logical that this piece is from 17th century Kirman. 

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