Islamic Ghazni: Stonepaste
Inv. no. Z0004
Lustreware
IsMEO / IsIAO Italian Archaeological Mission in Afghanistan, 1957
Ghazni, House of Lustrewares
Room II, cache I
Ghazni, House of Lustrewares
Room II, cache I
Other images
Lustre-painted bowl
Stonepaste
Overglaze lustre painting
rim Ø 19.3; base Ø 7.8; h. 8.5 cm
Early 13th century
Lustre-painted stonepaste conical bowl, slightly flared profile, tapered rim, low carination, foot ring with tapered tips. Dark red-purple lustre colour with brown-olive green strokes. Complete.
Interior decoration: Three concentric bands with incised inscription (1); painted inscription (2) on a scroll ground, framed below by a painted horizontal stripe; painted inscription (3) on plain background. Roundel with scalloped edge and radial cross-shaped motifs, depicting a seated couple with haloes and ornamented garments, including incised inscriptions on the armbands; incised scrollwork and reserved half-palmettes on the background.
Exterior decoration: Medallions featuring reserved large palmettes and painted squiggles in the spandrels, framed by horizontal stripes.
Current location: unknown
Inscriptions: Persian and Arabic, cursive, one line
Poems + benedictory formula
2. Arabic, Kufic, one line
Abridged benedictory formulae
3. Persian, cursive, one line
Poems
Interior decoration: Three concentric bands with incised inscription (1); painted inscription (2) on a scroll ground, framed below by a painted horizontal stripe; painted inscription (3) on plain background. Roundel with scalloped edge and radial cross-shaped motifs, depicting a seated couple with haloes and ornamented garments, including incised inscriptions on the armbands; incised scrollwork and reserved half-palmettes on the background.
Exterior decoration: Medallions featuring reserved large palmettes and painted squiggles in the spandrels, framed by horizontal stripes.
Current location: unknown
Inscriptions: Persian and Arabic, cursive, one line
Poems + benedictory formula
2. Arabic, Kufic, one line
Abridged benedictory formulae
3. Persian, cursive, one line
Poems
دل در سر زلفت همه گمراهى ديد / در عمر زهجران تو كوتاهى ديد / جانم زغمت تنگ نفس باز آيد / بشتاب اگرم زنده همى خواهی ديد // همواره ترا دولت و عز افزون باد / اقبال تو بگذشته زحد بيرون باد / تا هرچ ازين كاسه بكام تو رسد / اى صدر جهان ترا بجان افزون باد // بركة لصاحبه
"The heart got totally lost into your lock of hair, / It saw its life shortened due to separation from you. / My spirit gets again out of breath longing for you. / Hurry up if you want to see me alive! // May your wealth and glory always increase, / May your prosperity surpass all limits, / So whatever reaches your palate from this bowl, / Oh Master of the World, may add to your life. // Blessing on its owner ... (Reading by V. Allegranzi)
رنگ از زخ تو لاله نعمان گيرد / طوطى زدو لعلت شكر انبان(؟) گيرد / ماه شب چهارده زرشک رخ تو / انگشت حسد در سر دندان گيرد // نگه دار بادا جهان آفرین / بهر جا که باشد خداوند این
"The anemone takes its colour from your cheek, / The parrot picks a sugar bag(?) from your ruby lips. / The full moon is so jealous of your face / that it bites its finger out of envy! // May the Creator of the World protect / the owner of this [bowl] wherever he may be!" (Reading by V. Allegranzi)
Neg. no.: 1165/4; 1165/1
Digital photos: -
Drawings: 393 AFG/C133
Digital photos: -
Drawings: 393 AFG/C133