Publication Date
6th / 12th century
Publication Place
-
The National Museum in Damascus
Subject
Decorated porcelain in many colors under glaze.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 0.118م؛ قطر الفوهة: 0.087م
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
ع 5942
Record ID
object;ISL;sy;Mus01;22;ar
Library Location
The National Museum in Damascus
Date
6th / 12th century
Notes
This piece is one of the examples of Syrian ceramics decorated in many colors under a glaze. This type of ceramic is similar in its decoration to the Iranian ceramic known as “enamel”, but the colors of the enamel ceramic are over the glaze. Since the enamel porcelain technique was not known in the Levant and the Peninsula, the Syrian potters used their usual technique in making ceramics, by applying color under the glaze, but they adopted the images and taste of enamel porcelain. This type of enameled ceramics flourished in Iran in the 6/12th and 7/13th centuries, and was contemporary with similar Syrian ceramics. The increased flexibility of drawing and the multiplicity of colors made the decorative images on this pottery more ornate, even narrative. This piece is a small jug equipped with a handle and a simple circular base. The lip of the vessel is slightly outward to help pour the contents easily, and it is decorated with geometric and floral designs. Most of the stem of the vessel is decorated with a band occupied by drawings of a group of seated women, some of whom are playing musical instruments. The clothes worn by the women depicted on the ewer and the style of their hair may express the taste and standards of beauty of that era. It was noted, for example, that the uniform has vertical stripes in successive colors. All drawings are executed in black, wine red and dark blue on an ivory yellow basis, and there are traces of gilding.
Sample Text
Mona al-Moadin “Jug” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;sy;Mus01;22;ar
