Minneapolis Institute of Art

Large bowl with Kufic and Palmette motifs

Persian Empire

Date

10th century

Medium

Earthenware with a white slip ground under a clear glaze with red, dark brown, olive and gold slip-painted decor

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Notable for its size, this steep bowl features inner walls with leaf-shaped palmettes united by a narrow, highly abstract mock-Kufic inscription. Two bands of Kufic script in gold appear opposite each other on the rim. Small brown and reddish-brown roundels are positioned between the palmettes and the gold inscriptions animating the overall design. The texts in this group of bowls are usually brief Kufic inscription espousing Islamic virtues such as charity, modesty, and personal perfection. The writings can also wish blessings on the owner. Polychrome ware featuring opposed palmettes, opposed Arabic inscriptions, and slip-incised patterns like those here, were very popular across central Asia during the 10th and 11th centuries. Iran, Uzbekistan

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