This bowl is painted in polychrome enamels and gold. It has a central roundel with Persian verses in blue nasta'liq, surrounded by a wide border of 'boteh' (floral paisley) motif, which is further encircled by Persian verses. The verses relate the martydom of the third Imam of the Shi'a at the battle of Karbala. Each piece is signed Mirza Buzurg Shirazi (AH 1224-1276, corresponding to 1809/10-1859/60 CE), a doctor and nasta'liq scribe who was born in Shiraz.Although the porcelain was produced in China, it was exported overseas and intended for the West Asian or Indian market.
