Fritware dish, painted in lustre over an opaque, white glaze
Iran, Kashan; beginning of 13th century
H: 4.3; Diam: 35.4 cm
The piece belongs to a little group of dishes made in the same fluted form with 29 segments. All were painted in lustre with figurative scenes whose content is not always clear. Two of the dishes carry a date: 1207 or 1210.
Around the edge of the dish is a cursive inscription with Persian love poetry, and the six richly clad figures seem to be deep in meditation. This could indicate that the decoration and inscription might be related to Sufi mysticism, as has been suggested for other dishes in the group.
Inv. no. 2/1975
Published in:
Art from the World of Islam. 8th-18th century, Louisiana, Humlebæk 1987, cat.no. 105;
Kjeld von Folsach: Islamic art. The David Collection, Copenhagen 1990, cat.no. 98;
Kjeld von Folsach and Anne-Marie Keblow Bernsted: Woven Treasures: Textiles from the World of Islam, The David Collection, Copenhagen 1993, fig. 4, p. 40;
Kjeld von Folsach, Torben Lundbæk and Peder Mortensen (eds.): Sultan, Shah and Great Mughal: the history and culture of the Islamic world, The National Museum, Copenhagen 1996, cat.no. 145;
Kjeld von Folsach: Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, Copenhagen 2001, cat.no. 152;
Joachim Meyer and Peter Wandel: Sufisme: islams mystiske vej, Davids Samling, København 2011, pp. 12-13;
