Timurid Jade Bowl

This green jade bowl was most probably an "heirloom" object when chosen by the Safavid ruler Shah Abbas I in 1020 AH/1612 CE to be donated to the shrine of Shah Safi at Ardabil, Iran. The bowl includes an inscription detailing this donation and cartouche bearing elaborate calligraphy, picked out with red pigment. The calligraphy carved on the bowl is similar to those made on the large collection of blue-and-white Chinese porcelains also donated by the Shah to the Ardabil shrine. Its carving style is most closely aligned with the royal atelier producing hardstone carvings for the Timurid ruler Ulugh Beg in Samarqand during the first half of the 9th century AH/15th century CE. Although such artworks are common in South Asia, bowls in carved jade from Iran and Central Asia are rare, especially those with royal inscriptions; only three other objects aside from this one are known for this region.