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John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
Bowl with Kufic Inscription
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA
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Bowl with Kufic Inscription

Artifact IDMO 63.1864
Object Type Bowl
Date 10th Century, Samanid Dynasty
Date Presented4/11/1962
Gifter
Place MadeNishapur, Iran, Asia
Medium clay, engobe, underglaze
DimensionsOverall Diam 12 1/4 in (31.1 cm)
Physical DescriptionBowl with low straight sides, made of red earthenware covered in white clay slip. The bowl is decorated with an inscription around the interior to the edge of the rim, in added pigment of dark brown and iron red, under clear glaze. The inscription is painted in floral Kufic, a variant of Kufic where leaves and flowers grow from the letters themselves. Nishapur was a major production center of this type of pottery.
Historical NoteThis bowl was presented to President John F. Kennedy by Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran (1941-1979), during his state visit to the White House on April 11, 1962.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteItem was a gift from a foreign official to the President and First Lady received through the Executive office during the Kennedy Administration and transferred to the General Service Administration where it was held until donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum by the Estate of President John F. Kennedy in 1965.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; Gift of the Estate of President John F. Kennedy
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts from Heads of State (National Archives Identifier 1677008)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedUse Restriction NoteReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view