PROBABLY TABRIZ, IRAN, LATE 15TH/16TH CENTURY

The pronounced craquelure of the glaze is typical of the technical failure of Tabrizi potters; this was better addressed by other Iranian potters during the 17th century. The quality of these Chinese-inspired ceramics is not as high as their Yuan and Ming counterparts; the frit body was relatively weak compared to porcelain and the glaze inclined to absorb dirt through the crackles. The present dish is very interesting however for the ribs around the cavetto are not incised in the body - as seen on later Tabriz dishes - nor are they painted underglaze. They have been painted over the transparent colourless glaze and fixed in a second low temperature firing.