Probably Kashan, late 12th or early 13th century
Fritware with colours painted in and over the glaze, mina’i
Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, POT 875
The inside of this bowl probably depicts the story of Faridun, though not in standard order. The scene on the top right may show Faridun’s elder sons, Salm and Tur, leaving through an arched doorway, after hearing of the king’s generosity to their younger brother, Iraj.
The bottom right probably shows them murdering Iraj and in the bottom left a sorrowful Faridun receives his beloved son’s remains. This delicate fragment is a remarkable example of the mina’i technique.
The small scenes and their minute figures may have been modelled on lost manuscript illustrations. Such a fine object was probably intended for display rather than for practical use.
