Serving dish - Ceramic - Ceramica Kashan

Large serving dish or parade basin, Middle Eastern or Silk Road production, with strong stylistic and structural affinities to Kashan ceramics (Persia) or Central Asian wares dating to the 12th–14th centuries. The raised ring foot and the central part of the base are free of turquoise glaze, exposing the siliceous or clay paste. This technical choice prevented the object from fusing or sticking to the oven supports during firing at high temperatures. Along the outer circular band there are irregular runs of blue-t turquoise glaze. This uneven thickness and the translucent effect are typical of manual immersion or pouring application, typical of medieval Islamic ceramic workshops. The three glaze-free spots arranged in a triangle indicate the use of 'hen’s feet' (refractory tripods). They were used to stack the plates in the oven without them sticking during the glaze firing. The jagged profile, although compromised by chips and glaze loss, shows a restless rim consistent with models of parade or banqueting wares.