Publication Date
Early 7th/13th century
Publication Place
-
Islamic Section, National Museum in Aleppo
Subject
White quartz paste with dark brown metallic luster embellishments over a greenish translucent glaze.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 14.1سم؛ القطر 41.5سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
561
Record ID
object;ISL;sy;Mus01_A;47;ar
Library Location
Islamic Section, National Museum in Aleppo
Date
Early 7th/13th century
Notes
A large bowl with a dark brown metallic luster from Qal'at Ja'bar, an important example of pottery known as Raqqa pottery. This bowl was found during excavations in 1974-3 carried out by the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums in the medieval Jaabar Castle, located on the left bank of the Middle Euphrates, making it one of the few pieces that reached the museum through excavations and not through art markets. The decoration of this piece is very original, the largest part of which is occupied by an impressive shape of a sun disk with a feminine face. The face has almond-shaped eyes, moles on the cheeks, and untied curly hair. Surrounding the solar face are two halos of sparkling rays that cover the central part of the bowl. The shape of the sun is one of the pictorial decorations used on metal pieces, as it is usually surrounded by planets and constellations, forming a celestial dome. As for medieval Syrian pottery, such a shape is rarely used. Interestingly, the potter replaced the planetary circle with eight medallion-like decorative patterns alternating red floral motifs on a white ground with white lunar decorative frames on a red ground. This composition seems to have used the theme that is usually used on metal pieces, which is a use specific to Raqqa. The rim of the bowl is colored liberally with dots and curved decorations usually defined by a pair of vertical lines, a feature that reflects the form of the epigraphic decoration. The bowl belongs to a rare group of lustre-painted pieces decorated with figurative decoration. The bowl's shallow shape, convex cross-section, upturned rim, and wide base are common shapes for metallic luster ceramics. The exterior is undecorated, and the translucent greenish glaze covers only the upper two-thirds of the bowl, a common method in Raqqa ceramics.
Sample Text
Julia Gonnella “A metallic luster porcelain bowl with a sun motif” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;sy;Mus01_A;47;ar
