Blue and White Muslimware Bowl

This late 19th century footed bowl would have been offered in Central Asia by Chinese traders along the Silk Road in exchange for spices or gems. The Chinese artisans who hand painted it with scrolls, loops and crossed lines thought the decorations looked similar to Islamic characters that they didn’t know how to write. The bowl would have been commonly used every day for tea, rice, noodles and soup. It carries a rich heritage of art, cultural and economic history that spans from East to West Asia.