{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O86026"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86026/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BG1785/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BG1785/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BG1785","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AF0324","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O86026/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O86026","accessionNumber":"C.167-1977","objectType":"Bottle-jug","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This small bottle is made from fritware (also called stone paste and quartz paste), an artificial ceramic body developed by Middle Eastern potters around the middle of the 11th century to imitate the hard, bright white body of imported Chinese porcelains. The main ingredient in fritware was fine quartz powder made by grinding sand or pebbles. Small quantities of white clay and a glassy substance known as frit were added – the clay to give plasticity, the frit to bind the body after firing. \r\n\r\nIn the 12th and early 13th centuries, fritware was used in Kashan and other pottery centres in Iran to produce fine wares decorated in an astonishing range of styles. Since fritware holds a shape well, this allowed the potters to copy the complex shapes of metalwork vessels, as in the case of this bottle, which was probably used for pouring drinking liquids.  \r\n\r\nThe decoration of this jug is painted in lustre, an overglaze technique using metallic pigments derived from silver and copper, first invented in Iraq in the early 9th century. It shows a row of seated figures who alternate with small cypress trees decorated with chequerboard designs. This motif and the general style of painting has been called the 'miniature style', as it is thought to have its origins in miniature paintings on paper.\r\n\r\nThis vessel was part of a hoard that was deliberately buried by its owner, probably a merchant who lived in Jurjan in north-east Iran, or who was passing through the city. In 1220, Jurjan was threatened by a Mongol invasion. The merchant packed the vessels in sand inside large storage jars and  buried them for safekeeping. Soon afterwards, Jurjan was completely destroyed by the Mongols, and the owner never returned to recover the hoard.\r\n\r\nAs a result, the vessels in this hoard survived together for almost 800 years, and in relatively good condition. The probable date of their burial also gives us a good indication of when the vessels in the hoard were made, as well as showing the wide variety of types of decoration that were used to make Iranian pottery at this time.","physicalDescription":"Fritware bottle decorated with lustre over a transparent glaze. The decoration is in the so-called 'miniature style', and shows a row of seated figures alternating with small cypress trees decorated with chequerboard designs.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"fritware with lustre decoration","categories":[{"text":"Islam","id":"THES48932"},{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"}],"styles":[{"text":"Seljuk","id":"AAT21736"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2006BG1785","2006AF0324"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"145 (VA)","id":"THES49865"},"free":"","case":"35","shelf":"1","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Bottle-jug","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Iran","id":"x30220"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1180-1220","earliest":"1180-01-01","latest":"1220-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Mr C.N. Ades, MBE, in memory of his wife, Andrée Ades","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"11.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This vessel was part of a hoard that was deliberately buried by its owner, probably a merchant who lived in Jurjan in north-east Iran, or who was passing through the city. In 1220, Jurjan was threatened by a Mongol invasion. The merchant packed the vessels in sand inside large storage jars and  buried them for safekeeping. Soon afterwards, Jurjan was completely destroyed by the Mongols, and the owner never returned to recover the hoard.As a result, the vessels in this hoard survived together for almost 800 years, and in relatively good condition.The probable date of their burial also gives us a good indication of when the vessels in the hoard were made, as well as showing the wide variety of types of decoration that were used to make Iranian pottery at this time.\r\n\r\nClement Ades gave a large number of objects found in the Jurjan hoard to the Victoria and Albert Museum at different times. Their object numbers are C.152 to 171-1977, and C.35 to 49-1978.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Ceramic; Fritware bottle decorated with lustre over a transparent glaze. The decoration is in the so-called 'miniature style', and shows a row of seated figures alternating with small cypress trees decorated with chequerboard designs. Found at Jurjan. Iran, probably Kashan, before 1220.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<u>The Gurgan Finds</u> (London: Bluett and Sons Limited, 1976)"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Oliver Watson, \"Persian Wares\", <u>Connoisseur</u> (January 1979), pp.13-19"},{"reference":{"text":"Watson, Oliver. Persian Lustre Ware. London: Faber and Faber, 1985.","id":"AUTH407108"},"details":"Colour Plate C, pp. 68-9","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Tim Stanley (ed.), with Mariam Rosser-Owen and Stephen Vernoit, <i>Palace and Mosque: Islamic Art from the Middle East</i>, London, V&A Publications, 2004","id":"AUTH351313"},"details":"Plate 102","free":""}],"production":"Probably Kashan","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"BOTTLE\r\nEarthenware painted in lustre.\r\nFound at Jurjan.\r\nPERSIAN (Kashan); early 13th century.\r\nGiven by Mr. C. N. Ades MBE in memory of his wife, Andree Ades.\r\n[Old Islamic gallery label]","date":{"text":"Used until 03/2004","earliest":"2004-03-01","latest":"2004-03-31"}}],"partNumbers":["C.167-1977"],"accessionNumberNum":"167","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":1977,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-28","recordCreationDate":"2003-11-19","availableToBook":false}}