22 amazing ceramic pieces from the Aga Khan Museum

Chinese ‘swatow’ dish

Chinese ‘swatow’ dish / China, 17th century / Porcelain, painted in overglaze green and black enamels on opaque white glaze, Ø 35.1 cm

Chinese plate for ablutions

Chinese plate for ablutions / China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen, Zhengde era, 1506 –21 / Porcelain, H 7.5 cm; Ø 41.8 cm
Inscription (in Arabic): (central medallion) “Purity”; (cavetto medallions) “Blessed is he who purifies his hand from wrongdoing”; (exterior) “Ablution upon ablution is light upon light”

Bowl with bird

Bowl with bird / North Africa, ca. 11th –12th century / Fritware, painted and glazed, Ø 23.8 cm

Bowl with a peacock

Bowl with a peacock / Syria, 12th century / Fritware, lustre painted over an opaque white glaze, Ø 24.3 cm

Bowl with radiating design

Bowl with radiating design / Syria, 12th century / Fritware, lustre painted over an opaque white glaze, Ø 23.5 cm
Inscription (Arabic): (in central roundel) “Glory”; (exterior) min san³ Abi Mashhur khass (“one of the works of Abi Mashhur, special [royal?] commission”)

Dish with a lion

Dish with a lion / Turkey, Iznik, second half of the 16th Century / Fritware, polychrome underglaze painted on an opaque white glaze, Ø 36.5 cm

Dish with central flower

Dish with central flower / Turkey, Iznik, ca. 1575 –1580 / Fritware, polychrome underglaze painted on an opaque white glaze, Ø 29.2 cm

Dish with red roses

Dish with red roses / Turkey, Iznik, ca. 1575 –1580 / Fritware, polychrome underglaze painted on an opaque white glaze; Ø 28.5 cm / Kindly lent by Princess Catherine Aga Khan

Dish with a representation of a garden

Dish with a representation of a garden / Turkey, Iznik, circa 1575 –1580 / Fritware, polychrome underglaze painted on an opaque white glaze, Ø 29.8 cm / Kindly lent by Princess Catherine Aga Khan

Dish with tulips and roses

Dish with tulips and roses / Turkey, Iznik, ca. 1575 –1580 / Fritware, polychrome underglaze painted on an opaque white glaze, Ø 34.3 cm

Dish

Dish / Tashkent, 9th–10th century / Inscription (Arabic): (in dark brown) al-jud min akhlaq ahl al-janna (“generosity is the disposition of the dwellers of Paradise”); (in red) al-sala[ma] (“good health”) / Earthenware, white slip with black and red slip decoration under a transparent glaze; Ø 34.9 cm

Dish

Dish / Eastern Iranian world (Khurasan or Transoxiana), 9th–10th century / Inscription (Arabic): iyyaka wa-l-ahmaq la tu³ashiruhu wa-I-ta²ih al-mu³jab la tujawiruhu / bi-l-baraka (“Be aware of the fool, do not associate with him, and do not trust the bewildered admirer; with blessing”) / Earthenware, black slip with white slip decoration under a transparent glaze; Ø 33.5 cm

Dish

Dish / Eastern Iranian world, ca. 10th century / Earthenware, polychrome slip decoration under a transparent glaze; Ø 28 cm

Dish

Dish / Eastern Iranian world, ca. 10th century / Inscription (Arabic): al-jud min akhlaq ahl al-janna (“Generosity is the disposition of the dwellers of Paradise”) / Earthenware, polychrome slip decoration under a transparent glaze; Ø 32.8 cm

Bowl

Bowl / Northeastern Iran, ca. 10th century / Earthenware, polychrome slip decoration under a transparent glaze; H 11.5 cm; Ø 31 cm

Moulded bowl decorated with a star

Moulded bowl decorated with a star / Eastern Iranian world, 12th–13th century / Fritware, with moulded decoration and blue and purple under a transparent glaze, Ø 25 cm

Moulded bowl decorated with a medaillion

Moulded bowl decorated with a medaillion / Eastern Iranian world, 12th–13th century / Fritware, with moulded decoration and blue and purple under a transparent glaze; Ø 18.8 cm

Lusterware bowl with riders and camels

Lusterware bowl with riders and camels / Iran, late 12th – early 13th century / Fritware, lustre painted on an opaque white glaze; Ø 17 cm

Lusterware bowl with riders

Lusterware bowl with riders / Iran, ca. 1170 –1200 / Fritware, lustre painted on an opaque white glaze; Ø 17 cm

Lusterware dish with enthronment scene

Lusterware dish with enthronment scene / Iran, Kashan style, late 12th – early 13th century / Fritware, lustre painted on an opaque white glaze, Ø 17 cm

Lusterware mince dish with seven hollows

Lusterware mince dish with seven hollows / Iran, late 12th – early 13th century / Fritware, lustre painted on an opaque white glaze, Ø 31.1 cm / Kindly lent by Princess Catherine Aga Khan

Safavid blue and white dish with flowers

Safavid blue and white dish with flowers / Iran, 17th century / Fritware body with blue underglaze painting, Ø: 46.6 cm.

See more: http://www.akdn.org/museum/collections_show.asp?category=Ceramic,%20Mosaic
Photos: © Copyright Aga Khan Museum