Sherd
11th century-12th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This sherd formed part of the everted (outward turning) 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 decoration in reddish-brown lustre. Some experts think that a cartouche on the rim reads as 'Al-yumn' (good fortune). The interior has an interlace pattern reserved (showing through in the body colour) in the lustre ground, which has spiral motifs scratched through it.
On the outside, the potter has outlined the lip of the bowl in lustre and inscribed the Arabic word Sa'd 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.
On the outside, the potter has outlined the lip of the bowl in lustre and inscribed the Arabic word Sa'd 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, white slip and transparent glaze, painted in a silver oxide lustre pigment |
| Brief description | Part of the everted rim of a bowl. Fritware with white slip, transparent glaze and decoration of dark reddish-brown lustre. Cartouches on the rim read 'al-yumn' in cursive script, and the body of the interior is decorated with interlocking white ribs forming rhomboids, which are infilled with scratched spirals. A fragment of 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). Egypt, 11th-12th century.; C |
| Physical description | Sherd that formed part of the everted rim of a bowl. The fritware body is covered with white slip, transparent glaze and decoration in reddish-brown lustre. A cartouche on the rim has been interpreted as reading, Al-yumn, meaning "good fortune", while the interior is decorated with an interlace pattern reserved in the lustre ground, which has spiral motifs scratched through it. On the outside, the lip of the bowl is delineated in lustre, and 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 everted (outward turning) 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 decoration in reddish-brown lustre. Some experts think that a cartouche on the rim reads as 'Al-yumn' (good fortune). The interior has an interlace pattern reserved (showing through in the body colour) in the lustre ground, which has spiral motifs scratched through it. On the outside, the potter has outlined the lip of the bowl in lustre and inscribed the Arabic word Sa'd 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.1792-1921 |
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| Record created | March 10, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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