Name of Object:

Dish

Location:

Kuwait City, Kuwait

Holding Museum:

Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah

Date:

Hegira 894–912 / AD 1488–1505

Type of object:

Vessels & receptacles, porcelain

Museum Inventory Number:

LNS 1090 C

Period / Dynasty:

Hongzhi Dynasty

Provenance:

China

Description:

Large white porcelain dish with cobalt blue glaze decorated with a central inscribed roundel surrounded by four evenly spaced roundels each filled with an identical inscription. The interior of the foot is a Hongzhi six-character mark withing a a double line roundel.

In the central roundel: "Bestow numerous blessings and great honour upon him for You are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy." In the surrounding roundels, a repetition of: "There is no youth other than `Ali There is no sword other than Zulficar And `Ali is the Rightful Death will only strike at the appointed time."

Around the rim: "In the name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful Call unto `Ali the paragon of wonders, you shall find him of help in your misfortune. He who is relied upon [to intercede] before God for all needs All anguish and all sorrow shall disappear, through your Prophethood Oh Muhammad and through your Divine trusteeship, Oh `Ali, Oh `Ali, Oh `Ali By the Divine Truth of The Absolute Sovereign of all things I take refuge in He Who has the glory, the might and the power And we put our trust in He Who slumbers and perishes not I take refuge in God's sanctuary, and in His protection from the evil of all beings By the truth of "ham", by the truth of "kahi`us" and "`asaq" There is neither power nor strength but in God, The Most High, The Supreme May the blessing of God be upon Muhammad Mustafa (the Chosen) and his family collectively."

Citation of this web page:

 "Dish" in Explore Islamic Art Collections , Museum With No Frontiers, 2019. http://www.museumwnf.org/thematicgallery/thg_galleries/database_item.php?itemId=objects;EPM;kw;Mus21;44;en&id=porcelain

MWNF Working Number: KW 44