Bottle Depicting a Hunting Scene
first half 17th century
1 of 2
Caption
Bottle Depicting a Hunting Scene, first half 17th century. Ceramic; fritware, painted in cobalt blue and black on an opaque white glaze, 11 1/2 × 8 1/4 × 5 1/4 in. (29.2 × 21 × 13.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Museum Collection, 34.6024. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Collection
Collection
Title
Bottle Depicting a Hunting Scene
Date
first half 17th century
Dynasty
Safavid
Period
Safavid
Geography
Place made: Iran, Possible place made: Mashad, Iran
Medium
Ceramic; fritware, painted in cobalt blue and black on an opaque white glaze
Classification
Dimensions
11 1/2 × 8 1/4 × 5 1/4 in. (29.2 × 21 × 13.3 cm)
Credit Line
Brooklyn Museum Collection
Accession Number
34.6024
Frequent Art Questions
What is fritware?
Fritware is a type of ceramic material similar to the ancient Egyptian faience. "Frit" is a finely ground, glassy substance often made from quartz. Potters add an oxide to the frit which functions as a "flux" and lowers the melting point of the frit. This mixture can then be melted into a more fluid state and formed into tiles or vessels like you see in our gallery.Fritware is stronger than traditional clay meaning that it can produce a greater variety of forms with thinner and more decorative walls. Fritware is also naturally white which, of course, takes color much more easily than a brown, earthenware body.Tell me more.
I love the design on this bottle and the way the hunter seems hidden amidst thick foliage. In contrast to the Chinese-inspired designs nearby, the figures on this bottle wear European-inspired clothing in a style popular in Safavid period Persia.Something especially unique about this one is the way that the blue glaze fills the negative space while the naturally white color of the fritware makes up the foreground.
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