Covered Vessel with Relief Design of Arabic Inscription in Kufic Script
- Culture
- Persian
- Period
- Samanid dynasty, 819–1005
- Date
- 10th century
- Material
- Steatite
- made in
- Nishapur, Khorasan province, Iran, Asia
- Classification
- Containers, stone & mineral
- Collection
- Islamic Art
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 120
- Dimensions
- height with cover: 5 7/8 in. (14.9 cm)
diameter of cover: 8 5/8 in. (21.9 cm)
height of vessel without cover: 4 in. (10.2 cm)
diameter of mouth: 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm)
width across handles: 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm)
diameter of base: 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm) - Credit Line
- Museum Purchase
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 71:1949a,b
NOTES
Steatite vessels such as this one were used for cooking in the 9th–10th centuries in the northeastern Iranian city of Nishapur. Many small steatite objects have been excavated, but this is the largest complete vessel known. The stone is carved to form an Arabic inscription in relief, in an angular style known as Kufic. The tops of the taller letters end in leaves and flowers, a popular calligraphic device in the 10th century.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.