Jug with Design of Five Sphinxes and a Standing Figure

Five sphinxes, followed by a man in a hat, advance across the surface of this small jug in patterns of blue, red, green, and gold. This is an example of Mina’i ware, a style of pottery from Kashan, Iran. Its vibrant effect was achieved by applying enameled paint over a light-colored background. The bright white glaze was developed by Persian artists to mimic Chinese porcelain, which was imported into present-day Iran as a luxury good. Kaolin clay, required to make porcelain, was not locally available in Persia during this period.