This item has been added to the Database within the Explore Islamic Art Collections project. Information is available in:English, Arabic.

Name of Object:

Mina´i painted bowl

Location:

Doha, Qatar

Holding Museum:

Museum of Islamic Art

 About Museum of Islamic Art, Doha

Date of Object:

Hegira 6th-7th century / AD late 12th-early 13th century

Museum Inventory Number:

PO.228

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Fritware; Minai Painting

Dimensions:

Diameter: 21.6cm

Period / Dynasty:

Seljuq

Provenance:

Iran, Kashan

Description:

Figurative decoration on Iranian pottery of the 12th and 13th centuries reflects a contemporary tradition of mural and manuscript painting, of which very little survives. The repertoire of mina´i ware sometimes includes recognizable episodes from the epic Shahnama, and it is possible that the scene depicted on this bowl shows just such a one: the ruler Bahram Chubina is presented with the head of a general, Ayin Ghashap, who was sent to oppose him. The head is being held by the soldier who had murdered the general. However, the soldier greatly misjudged the ruler; Bahram had great respect for Ayin Ghashap and had the soldier hanged.

Selected bibliography:

Pal, Pratapaditya, Islamic Art: The Nasli M. Heeramaneck Collection, gift of Joan Palevsky, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), 1973.
Watson, Oliver, Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar, Munich: Prestel Verlag, 2008.

Citation of this web page:

 "Mina´i painted bowl" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;qt;Mus21;28;en


MWNF Working Number: QT 28