Sherd
11th century-12th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This sherd formed part of the rim of a bowl. It is one of a group of sherds found at Fustat, also known as Old Cairo. It is an example of the lustre-painted pottery produced in Egypt under the Fatimid dynasty, who ruled there from 969 to 1171. The potter has covered the fritware body with white slip, a transparent glaze and, over the glaze, a design in golden-brown lustre. The decoration on the very rim of the bowl consists of a band of reciprocating triangles separated by a zigzag line. Below this is a band of lustre with spirals scratched through it. Below this is a band that looks like an inscription but is in fact illegible. Finally, you can see the remains of a second lustre band with scratched decoration.
The potter has inscribed the Arabic word Sa'd on the outside of the bowl in the Kufic style. The word means 'happiness' but is also a common man's name. The same inscription appears on many other Egyptian lustre wares. However, it is not clear what it signifies. It could be a potter's signature, a workshop mark or the expression of a good wish by the potter for the future owner.
The potter has inscribed the Arabic word Sa'd on the outside of the bowl in the Kufic style. The word means 'happiness' but is also a common man's name. The same inscription appears on many other Egyptian lustre wares. However, it is not clear what it signifies. It could be a potter's signature, a workshop mark or the expression of a good wish by the potter for the future owner.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Fritware, with tin-opacified glaze and decoration painted in a silver oxide lustre pigment |
Brief description | Part of the rim of a bowl. Fritware with white slip, transparent glaze and decoration of golden-brown lustre. A band of pseudo-cursive inscription on the interior appears to evoke the word 'al-yumn' ('felicity'), and the word 'sa'd' ('happiness') is inscribed on the back, as on the bowl with a Coptic priest (C.49-1952). Found at Fustat (Old Cairo).; C |
Physical description | Sherd that formed part of the rim of a bowl. The fritware body is covered with white slip and a transparent glaze and is decorated over the glaze with a design in golden-brown lustre. The decoration on the very rim of the bowl consists of a band of reciprocating triangles separated by a zigzag line; below this is a band of lustre with spirals scratched through; and below this again is a band that was made to look like an inscription but is in fact illegible. Finally, the remains of a second lustre band with scratched decoration can be seen. Paired lines in lustre run aloong the lip of the bowl on the outside, where the word Sa'd, meaning "happiness" but also a common man's name, is inscribed in the Kufic style. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Marks and inscriptions |
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Production | Found at Fustat (Old Cairo) |
Summary | This sherd formed part of the rim of a bowl. It is one of a group of sherds found at Fustat, also known as Old Cairo. It is an example of the lustre-painted pottery produced in Egypt under the Fatimid dynasty, who ruled there from 969 to 1171. The potter has covered the fritware body with white slip, a transparent glaze and, over the glaze, a design in golden-brown lustre. The decoration on the very rim of the bowl consists of a band of reciprocating triangles separated by a zigzag line. Below this is a band of lustre with spirals scratched through it. Below this is a band that looks like an inscription but is in fact illegible. Finally, you can see the remains of a second lustre band with scratched decoration. The potter has inscribed the Arabic word Sa'd on the outside of the bowl in the Kufic style. The word means 'happiness' but is also a common man's name. The same inscription appears on many other Egyptian lustre wares. However, it is not clear what it signifies. It could be a potter's signature, a workshop mark or the expression of a good wish by the potter for the future owner. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | C.1827-1921 |
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Record created | March 10, 2003 |
Record URL |
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