Activity

Design a Calligraphic Plate

Design a calligraphic plate using Arabic script and images inspired by a meaningful word.

View Gallery

3 Photos

Calligraphic bowls and plates from West Asia

Inscription: “Take the middle road in [your] affairs; indeed it is a Salvation. Don’t ride a too gentle mount or a too obstinate one.” Bowl with Arabic inscription, approx. 900–1000. Northeastern Iran, Samanid period (819–1005). Earthenware with slip decoration under clear glaze. Asian Art Museum, The Avery Brundage Collection, B60P1862. Photograph © Asian Art Museum.

Inscription: “Take the middle road in [your] affairs; indeed it is a Salvation. Don’t ride a too gentle mount or a too obstinate one.”

Bowl with Arabic inscription, approx. 900–1000. Northeastern Iran, Samanid period (819–1005). Earthenware with slip decoration under clear glaze. Asian Art Museum, The Avery Brundage Collection, B60P1862. Photograph © Asian Art Museum.

A single inscription, the Arabic phrase al-baraka (“blessings”), covers most of this bowl’s interior. The inscription, while still readable, was exaggerated for the sake of overall design and shows the trend toward abstracting script that is a key feature of Islamic design and artwork. The lines of Kufic script mimic the woven pattern of a basket. Bowl, approx. 900–1100. Northeastern Iran or Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan. Earthenware with underglaze slip decoration. Asian Art Museum, The Avery Brundage Collection, B60P1837. Photograph © Asian Art Museum.

Bowl, approx. 900–1100. Northeastern Iran or Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan. Earthenware with underglaze slip decoration. Asian Art Museum, The Avery Brundage Collection, B60P1837. Photograph © Asian Art Museum.

Inscription: “Gift of his Excellency Nawab Amjad ad-daulah Hashmat ad-daulah on whom [...] AH 1295/1878 CE.” (Note that the inscription is upside down relative to the landscape.) Plate with architectural design and inscriptions, approx. 1850–1900. Iran, Qajar period (1794–1925). Fritware; blue and white underglaze painted decoration. Asian Art Museum, Gift of M. Larry Ottis, M.D., F2009.17.16. Photograph © Asian Art Museum.

Inscription: “Gift of his Excellency Nawab Amjad ad-daulah Hashmat ad-daulah on whom [...] AH 1295/1878 CE.” (Note that the inscription is upside down relative to the landscape.)

Plate with architectural design and inscriptions, approx. 1850–1900. Iran, Qajar period (1794–1925). Fritware; blue and white underglaze painted decoration. Asian Art Museum, Gift of M. Larry Ottis, M.D., F2009.17.16. Photograph © Asian Art Museum.

Duration

45 min.–1 hour
Grade Levels

College and Beyond, Elementary School (4-5), High School (9-12), Middle School (6-8)
Regions

The Persian World & West Asia
Academic Topics

Beliefs, Looking at Art
Academic Subjects

History & Social Science, Visual Arts, World Religions
Downloads

Design a Calligraphic Plate Activity PDF

Did you know that for centuries throughout West Asia, people have been decorating household items such as lamps, vases, bowls, and plates with calligraphy? Arabic script developed rapidly after the rise of Islam into not only a writing system but also an art form. Since the revelation from God to the prophet Muhammad—the Qur’an—is in Arabic, its script gives visible form to the divine beauty of God’s words. Eventually, Arabic and Persian calligraphy came to be used not only in religious contexts but also in secular writing such as poetry, aphorisms, and praise for rulers. Many of the West Asian ceramics in the Asian Art Museum’s collection have inscriptions with proverbs that encourage good behavior or offer blessings.

Take a look at the bowl and plate images in the image gallery above and notice the inscriptions: one is in the middle of the dish, another goes around the rim, while yet another is repeated throughout the basin to create a pattern. Read the provided translations; what are the inscriptions about? What might the inscription reveal about the person who owned the dish? After learning about these art objects, scroll down to the next image gallery or download the attached activity pdf to design your own calligraphic plate!

Materials

• Paper plate or rounded cardboard to draw on
• Something to draw with: markers, colored pencils, crayons, paint
• A cup to trace a circle with, about 3 or 4 inches in diameter
• Spare paper to practice Arabic script
• Link to website tutorial: Stanford Arabic Alphabet Chart

Procedure

Choose one of the Arabic words depicted here: marah (fun), amal (hope), salam (peace), hubb (love), qalb (heart), farah (joy). What are the images that come to mind when you think of your chosen word? They could be of your family and friends or of a favorite place, animal, food, plant, hobby, etc.
In the middle of your plate or cardboard, use a cup to trace a circle about 3 to 4 inches in diameter.
Draw your important images around the circle you traced, filling in empty space with abstract designs and color. Once you are finished drawing, open up the link to the Stanford Arabic Alphabet Chart and find the letters that make up your chosen word. Note: In Arabic you write words from right to left. Make sure to look closely and find the small arrows on each letter that indicate in which direction to make each stroke.
Using the chart, practice writing your word on a separate piece of paper until you feel confident enough to write it on your plate. If you want to go further, try clicking on a letter and learn how it’s pronounced.
Write your word in the small circle on your plate.

You can now use your plate to decorate part of your home! Use it as a centerpiece on a table, set it facing out on a shelf, or hang it on a wall. Enjoy telling visitors about your plate!

View Gallery

7 Photos

Click through for steps to make your own calligraphic plate

Choose one of the Arabic words depicted here: marah (fun), amal (hope), salam (peace), hubb (love), qalb (heart), farih (joy). What are the images that come to mind when you think of your chosen word? They could be of your family and friends or of a favorite place, animal, food, plant, hobby, etc.

In the middle of your plate or cardboard, use a cup to trace a circle about 3–4 inches in diameter.

Draw your important images around the circle you traced, filling in empty space with abstract designs and color.

Once you are finished drawing, open up the link to the Stanford Arabic Alphabet Chart and find the letters that make up your chosen word. Note: In Arabic you write words from right to left. Make sure to look closely and find the small arrows on each letter that indicate in which direction to make each stroke. Using the chart, practice writing your word on a separate piece of paper until you feel confident enough to write it on your plate. If you want to go further, try clicking on a letter and learn how it’s pronounced.

Write your word in the small circle on your plate. You can now use your plate to decorate part of your home! Use it as a centerpiece on a table, set it facing out on a shelf, or hang it on a wall. Enjoy telling visitors about your plate!