Bowl - Aga Khan Museum
Aga Khan Development Network
 
The Aga Khan Museum: Ceramic, Mosaic - 12th-13th century CE  Place your mouse over the image
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Classification
Ceramic, Mosaic

Object name
Bowl

Geography
Iran

Period
12th-13th century CE

Materials and technique
Stonepaste body, painted in lustre on an opaque white glaze

Dimensions
Ø 15.2 cm

Accession number
AKM00556

Description

Mediaeval Kashan lustre ceramics often feature a single monumental animal or figure in reserve on a lustre ground filled with floral vinescrolls. Representations of birds, horses and leopards are more common; the elephant-bird seen here seems to be unique. Perhaps this fantastic creature with the head of an elephant and body of a bird is inspired by the mythological bird (roc) of A Thousand and One Nights. The roc may have been derived from the enormous elephant bird, a now extinct flightless bird of the family Aepyornithidae that was native to Madagascar.

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-tileDishBowlBOWLPlateTileDishDISH-WITH-FLORAL-MOTIFSJugDishDish-with-Lion-motif