Bowl with Incised Lotus Flowers. Dimensions: H. 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm)Diam. 7 7/8 in. (20 cm). Date: second half 17th century or later.This bowl along with a bottle (91.1.131) are part of a group of Iranian ceramics known as Gombroon ware, named after a trading post on the south coast of Iran. Ideally situated, the port was frequented by both the Dutch and English East India Companies and served as an entrepot for ceramics and other luxury goods into Europe. The style of Gombroon ceramics and their role in international trade reflect the significant artistic, cultural, and economic ties that existed between China, Iran, and Europe in the seventeenth century.Like much of Iranian ceramic production from the ninth century onward, Gombroon wares sought to emulate Chinese ceramics, which were especially prized, not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their unique technical qualities. Gombroon ware is characterized by incised lines that serve to emphasize the thinness of the walls --