Back to Search

Bowl

Title	Bowl
Author	Unknown
Publication Date:	900
Publication Place	Iraq (made) -
Subject	Ceramics Islam
Type	Other
Language	Undetermined
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Physical Dimensions	Diameter: 10cm, Height: 6cm
Library:	Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID	C.56-1930
Record ID	C.56-1930
Library Location	Middle East Section
Date	900
Notes	This bowl is made from earthenware, but the pinkish ceramic body has been disguised by the use of an opaque tin glaze, which is made by adding particles of tin oxide to the glaze recipe. The use of tin opacification in glazes was first invented in Iraq in the early 9th century, where it was used to imitate the bright whiteness of imported Chinese porcelains. Tin-glazing was used throughout the Middle East until the middle of the 11th century, when a new, artificial ceramic body, known as fritware, was invented by potters in Egypt. This bowl is decorated in lustre, an overglaze technique using metallic pigments derived from silver and copper, which was also invented in Iraq in the early 9th century. The lustre pigments were painted on the hard shiny surface of the pot after it had been glazed, and it was then refired in a reducing kiln (an atmosphere starved of oxygen). The lustre on this bowl has developed as a brownish stain, and is not very shiny - it took a century or so of experimentation to get it right. Nevertheless, lustre became a very popular technique for decorating Islamic ceramics, and was especially used to imitate the designs of metal objects. The dotted background of this bowl probably imitates the ring-matted surface of precious metals. The design depicts a bear-like creature, and the Arabic word for 'blessing' repeated twice. In the footring is written the Arabic word meaning 'the work of' but without giving the name of a potter.
Malzemeler ve teknikler	Tin-glazed earthenware (fritware) with lustre decoration Clay Opaque White Glaze Lustre
Fiziksel açıklama	Bowl, buff-coloured earthenware (fritware), shallow with lightly flaring rim, covered in opaque white glaze, painted in a silver-rich yellowish-brown lustre, depicting a bear within a cartouche on a dotted ground beneath and above two inscriptions with the Arabic word 'barakah' ('blessing'), also in cartouches, the rim with scalloped border repeated twice on the front of the bowl. The exterior is painted with concentric circles of varied widths and stippled dashes, while inside the footring is the word ' 'amala' ('the work of'). Restored.
Üretim	Probably Basra
Üslup	Abbasid

View in source Victoria and Albert Museum Victoria and Albert Museum - Ottoman library catalog search

Victoria and Albert Museum

Bowl

Author Unknown

Publication Date 900

Publication Place Iraq (made) -

Subject Ceramics Islam

Type Other

Language Undetermined

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Physical Dimensions Diameter: 10cm, Height: 6cm

Library Victoria and Albert Museum

Library Asset ID C.56-1930

Record ID C.56-1930

Library Location Middle East Section

Date 900

Notes This bowl is made from earthenware, but the pinkish ceramic body has been disguised by the use of an opaque tin glaze, which is made by adding particles of tin oxide to the glaze recipe. The use of tin opacification in glazes was first invented in Iraq in the early 9th century, where it was used to imitate the bright whiteness of imported Chinese porcelains. Tin-glazing was used throughout the Middle East until the middle of the 11th century, when a new, artificial ceramic body, known as fritware, was invented by potters in Egypt. This bowl is decorated in lustre, an overglaze technique using metallic pigments derived from silver and copper, which was also invented in Iraq in the early 9th century. The lustre pigments were painted on the hard shiny surface of the pot after it had been glazed, and it was then refired in a reducing kiln (an atmosphere starved of oxygen). The lustre on this bowl has developed as a brownish stain, and is not very shiny - it took a century or so of experimentation to get it right. Nevertheless, lustre became a very popular technique for decorating Islamic ceramics, and was especially used to imitate the designs of metal objects. The dotted background of this bowl probably imitates the ring-matted surface of precious metals. The design depicts a bear-like creature, and the Arabic word for 'blessing' repeated twice. In the footring is written the Arabic word meaning 'the work of' but without giving the name of a potter.

Malzemeler ve teknikler Tin-glazed earthenware (fritware) with lustre decoration Clay Opaque White Glaze Lustre

Fiziksel açıklama Bowl, buff-coloured earthenware (fritware), shallow with lightly flaring rim, covered in opaque white glaze, painted in a silver-rich yellowish-brown lustre, depicting a bear within a cartouche on a dotted ground beneath and above two inscriptions with the Arabic word 'barakah' ('blessing'), also in cartouches, the rim with scalloped border repeated twice on the front of the bowl. The exterior is painted with concentric circles of varied widths and stippled dashes, while inside the footring is the word ' 'amala' ('the work of'). Restored.

Üretim Probably Basra

Üslup Abbasid