Dish - Aga Khan Museum
Aga Khan Development Network
 
The Aga Khan Museum: Ceramic, Mosaic - Safavid, 17th century CE  Place your mouse over the image
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Classification
Ceramic, Mosaic

Object name
Dish

Geography
Iran

Period
Safavid, 17th century CE

Dynasty
Safavid

Materials and technique
Ceramic, fritware, polychrome underglaze painted

Dimensions
Height 6 cm; Ø 34.2 cm

Accession number
AKM00691

Description

Kubachi wares are named after a small village located in the Caucasus in the Daghestan republic of Russia, in which several of them were found in the second half of the twentieth century.  Kubachi, however, does not have a history of pottery production; it is more likely that such ceramics were produced in north-western Iran. While Kubachi vessels display a range in decorative schemes, this large dish falls into the group produced in the early seventeenth century under the reign of the Safavid Shah 'Abbas I (r. 1587-1629 CE) (Welch 1973, p. 58). The subject matter - a youth in a spotted blue coat and red turban - represents an idealized portrait commonly depicted on ceramic surfaces and single page compositions during this time. The figure appears against a colourful background of flowers in red, gold, green and dark blue, and the portrait is framed by two circular bands, the outer one being the rim of each plate and including a condensed scallop design.

Other similar artefacts

60 pieces found

EWERPILGRIMS-FLASKDISH-WITH-INSCRIPTIONBowlBOWLVASEBOWL-WITH-INSCRIPTIONDISH-WITH-INSCRIPTIONJARDISH-WITH-A-BIRD-MOTIFDISH-WITH-RADIATING-SPOKESBOTTLE-WITH-HORSEMENBOWLBOWL-WITH-RIDERS-AND-CAMELSBottleBOWLTILEVASEALBARELLOALBARELLOALBARELLOTILETILE-PANELMUQARNAS-TILEMUQARNAS-TILECapitalBOWL-WITH-A-BIRD-MOTIFHEXAGONAL-TILETILE-ARCHMIHRAB-PANELDish-with-central-flowerBLUEANDWHITE-DISH-PANEL-WITH-IRISESDISHDish-with-red-rosesDish-with-tulips-and-rosesBOWLTILE-FRIEZETILEPLATEDish-with-a-representation-of-a-gardenDish-with-geometrical-decorationDISH-WITH-SEVEN-HOLLOWSBowl-with-horse-rider-and-birdBowl-with-man-stabbing-a-lionTILEBowlEMERALD-GREEN-BOTTLEDISHQibla-tileBowlBOWLPlateBowlTileDishDISH-WITH-FLORAL-MOTIFSJugDishDish-with-Lion-motif