Potsherds and preparation
Iran (c. 10th century) / The Met
Seldom does witticism shrunk down to pithy fortune cookie scale pass for art. Yet if ever ironclad rule admitted of exception, this bowl is it.
It reads:
التدبير قبل العمل یؤمنك من الندم اليُمْنُ والسلامه
Preparation before work spares you regret. Blessings and peace!
Surpassing elegance spares even a prosaic message from banality.
