Mina'i Lobed Bowl with a Seated Prince and Mythical Creatures
Seljuq dynasty (1037–1194), Late 12th/early 13th century
Medium
Mina'i ware, fritware with polychrome painting over an opaque white glaze
Dimensions
9.6 × 20.3 cm (3 13/16 × 8 in.)
Classification
bowl
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
40707
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Iranian 12th- and 13th-century overglaze-painted ceramics, or mina'i (meaning enameled), are particularly opulent and luxurious objects due to their broad color palette. Prior to the late 12th century, colors applied to ceramics were generally limited to one or two per vessel. This example, however, has a much wider range of color, including red, blue, purple, black, and beige. The use of multiple colors applied over the glazed allowed for the depiction of increasingly complex scenes on ceramic ...
About the Artist
Islamic
Islamic art, a profound visual tradition originating in the 7th century CE, flourished across vast territories from Spain to India under Muslim rule, encompassing architecture, ceramics, manuscripts, textiles, and metalwork produced by diverse artisans rather than a single named master. Drawing from pre-Islamic Sasanian, Byzantine, and late antique influences, its early development under the Umayy...