(Atil, 1973) This plate represents another example of Safavid pottery which is based on Chinese celadons. It has a flattened rim with a raised edge and vertical grooving decorates the cavetto.
The ardabil collection possesses a number of Chinese celadon plates dating from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Most of these have the same rim and fluted cavetto observed on this piece; some of the Chinese wares reveal stamped and incised decorations in the center (J.A. Pope, Chinese Porcelains, pl.124).
Islamic imitations of Far Eastern celadons are extremely thick and heavy, although the color of their glaze is quite close to that found on the Chinese prototypes. In the Safavid period, blue-and-white and polychrome designs were also applied to large celadon plates which had a fluted cavetto. One remarkable piece shows a blue-and-white star in the center with the surrounding celadon field slip-painted in white, while others are either painted with white slip or enhanced with polychrome overlgaze colors (Pope, Survey, pls. 802-804; Later Islamic Pottery, pl.87B). A majority of these wares is attributed to Kirman.
Collection:
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History:
Crosscurrents in Chinese and Islamic Ceramics (March 1, 1996 to July 1, 1997)
A Decade of Discovery: Selected Acquisitions 1970-1980 (November 9, 1979 to May 22, 1980)
Ceramics from the World of Islam (January 16, 1974 to July 1, 1974)
