Studio: international art (72.1918)

Early Persian Ceramics

seen in earlier or contemporaneous productions
of the Rhages atelier. The neat band of cali-
graphic inscription encircling the upper body
manifests the exceptional skill with which the
artist-decorator was able to use the beautiful
verses of kingly benediction.

To a different type belongs the bowl No. 5.
This shows the influence of the Rhages atelier,
which can be distinctly detected in its refined
shape and flaring lips, and also in the division of
the inner decoration and the mock inscription
which encircles the rim—a scheme of decoration
commonly seen in pieces found at Rhages.

7 ANDJ8. exterior and interior of bowl from rhages
(diameter 8J inches)

FROM RHAGES (DIAMETER 6 INCHES)

Of the two pieces reproduced in
colour one is representative of the
Sultanabad class assigned to the
late thirteenth or early fourteenth
century, in which the unequalled
turquoise predominates and seems
to be peculiar to Sultanabad ware.
The graceful bowl is undoubtedly
also from the Rhages atelier, as
shown by the frail material, the
shape and refinement of the etched
decorations. It is of earlier origin
than the last described and the
turquoise colour is used to better
advantage.

In No. 6 we have a specimen
of distinct Rhages type—a cup of
ovoid shape, with creamy white
glaze decorated in polychromatic
enamel displaying two personages,
a man and a woman, seated beneath
a vine, each holding a wine-goblet
and attired in costumes appertain-
ing to the nobility—miniature por-
traits, without doubt the work of
a master hand. A band of Kufic
caligraphy in white reserve on deco-
rated lapis blue ground encircles
the inner rim.

To another class of Rhages work
belongs No. 7—a beautiful bowl on
a small foot, with flaring sides, ivory-
white smooth glaze over a delicate
paste with underglaze decoration
in black, blue, and brown, display-
ing on the interior a blue circu-
lar medallion surrounded by six

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