Author
Unknown
Publication Date
1200
Publication Place
Egypt (made) Syria (made) -
Subject
Harpy Crown Scrollwork
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Diameter: 22.2cm, Height: 7.2cm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
C.47-1960
Record ID
C.47-1960
Library Location
Middle East Section
Date
1200
Notes
The lustre decoration on this bowl portrays a harpy. These rapacious monsters, part human and part bird, featured in Greek and Roman mythology. This piece was found at Tell Minis, which has given its name to high-quality wares similar to earlier Egyptian pottery. The technique of lustre decoration on ceramics was first developed in Iraq in the 9th century. Technical advances in lustre decoration made in Cairo were taken east to Syria in the 12th century. Potters used the lustre technique to make their wares shine like gold. First they made a glazed vessel or tile with little or no decoration in the normal way. When the piece had cooled, a design was painted over the glaze in metallic compounds. The pot or tile was then fired again, this time with a restricted supply of oxygen. In these conditions, the metallic compounds broke down, and a thin deposit of copper or silver was left on the surface of the glaze. When polished, this surface layer reflected the light.
Malzemeler ve teknikler
Earthenware with lustre painting on an opaque white glaze Earthenware Glazing Lustre-Painted
Fiziksel açıklama
White earthenware bowl painted in lustre with a harpy between two scrolls with very large leaves; the harpy wears a crown with two projections and her wing has a tiraz band with a pseudo-Kufic 'inscription' on it.
Üretim
Found at Tell Minis
Üslup
Islamic
