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A work made of gombroon ware, fritware with incised decoration under transparent glaze.

Ewer with Incised Floral Decoration

Safavid dynasty (1501-1722), late 17th/early 18th century

Iran Gombroon (Bandar Abbas)

Iran

This elegant ewer features lightly incised decoration under a transparent glaze. A type of ceramics commonly known as Gombroon ware, the name is derived from the port of Bandar-e 'Abbas (known as Gombroon by the British), from where these ceramics were exported in the 18th century. Both the Dutch and English East India Companies populated Bandar-e 'Abbas and traded heavily in ceramics. This ware was popular outside of the Islamic world because its delicate, glassy appearance was thought to closely resemble Chinese porcelain.

Gombroon ware, fritware with incised decoration under transparent glaze

Arts of Asia