Publication Date
In the year 1274 AH / 1857-1858 AD
Publication Place
-
Batha Museum; Fez
Subject
Tin-enamelled pottery; Cobalt nickel oxide coating.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 11 سم؛ القطر: 41.1 سم؛ قطر القاعدة 21.6 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
54.794
Record ID
object;ISL;ma;Mus01_C;34;ar
Library Location
Batha Museum; Fez
Date
In the year 1274 AH / 1857-1858 AD
Notes
This concave, rimless dish, painted blue over white tin glaze, belongs to the household utensils called tabsil, which were used as serving dishes for sauces. Its classic geometric composition is based around a center, represented by a blue circle, surrounded by floral braids and small dots connecting it with a six-pointed star. From this star, surrounded by a blue stripe and a white stripe, emanate three rows of intersecting circles in the form of a six-petaled flower. The interior spaces of these intersections, which are alternately painted in dark blue and pale blue, are decorated with small, simple serpentine decorations and repetitive floral motifs, inspired by the flowers of blue and white Chinese plates. Indeed, these Chinese ceramic vessels were known during this period in Morocco thanks to trade exchanges with the Far East. The decoration on the edges of the plate, arched inward, ends with small bouquets of roses and leaves colored in dark blue. Above the six medallions, located at the ends of the central star, are written two simple Arabic letters and four numbers, indicating the year of manufacture of this piece (1274 AH / 1857-1858 AD). This highly sophisticated composition, whose rhythms are organized by different shades of blue that stand out above the white luster of the tin glaze, has given importance to this dish, which is one of five known pieces in the group of dated pottery vessels.
Sample Text
Naima El Khatib-Boujibar “Dish decorated with star decoration” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;ma;Mus01_C;34;ar
