Dish with Carved Arabic Inscription in Floriated Kufic Reading "al-'izz" ("Glory")

Dish

At a point as yet not clearly defined in the history of medieval Islamic ceramic production, white Chinese porcelain inspired a new chapter in Islamic pottery making. In an attempt to imitate the appearance of the much-coveted Sung porcelain, a type of body first employed by the Pharaonic Egyptians was rediscovered. Composed of quartz, potash, and white clay, this white composite body was used in myriad ways.

This dish was deeply carved and then covered with a transparent turquoise glaze. The bold calligraphic design of the Arabic word al-'Izz ("glory") stands out dramatically from the background, an effect further enhanced by the tickening (and thus darkening) of the glaze in the lower background areas. Its broad, flat rim bears the same four-part decoration as is commonly found in the so-called laqabi ware (see MMA 29.160.17, no. 25 in this catalogue).

Marilyn Jenkins in [Berlin 1981]

Inscription: In Arabic: "al-'izz"; translation: "glory"
In kufic script a word like العین could be read as العز

(A. Ghouchani, 2010 )

Marking: Sticker under base: in type: 189; in pen: 1707
Sticker below base: Pa Mus 10-11-26

H. O. Havemeyer Collection, New York (until 1929; gifted to MMA)

University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. "Special Persian Exhibition," 1926.

Berlin. Museum für Islamische Kunst, Pergamonmuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. "The Arts of Islam. Masterpieces from the M.M.A.," June 15, 1981–August 8, 1981, no. 22.

New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Splendid Legacy: The Havemeyer Collection," March 27–June 20, 1993, pl. 108.

"Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York." In The Arts of Islam. Berlin, 1981. no. 22, pp. 74–75, ill. (b/w).

Frelinghuysen, Alice Cooney. Splendid Legacy: The Havemeyer Collection. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1993. p. 119, ill. pl. 108 (color).