Bottle, fritware, painted in underglaze cobalt blue with scholar on a horse, Iran, 1640-1665. Height: 35.3 cm, Diameter: 16.9 cm. Victoria & Albert museum. © V&A Images

Bottle with a straight and plain top. The neck has a trellis design at the top and as it moves down to the main body of the bottle there is a lotus decoration with leaves. Two separate scenes are depicted on the body of the bottle. One showing a pagoda and some huts set against some mountains - this image is reflected. The second scene showing a rider on horseback. The rider has a distinct fringe and one bare leg showing; the rider is carrying a staff or long cane of sorts in his left hand.

By the 1620s, Iranian potters were producing convincing copies of the Chinese porcelain imports flooding into Iran since the 1580s. The challenge was to produce well-painted Kraak-style designs on thinly walled vessels. By the 1650s, Safavid potters freely painted their own designs on domestic shapes.