Collections Explorer

Maker:

Unknown

Name(s):

ewer
Islamic pottery; category
monochrome glazed ware; category

Date:

circa 1100 — 1199
12th century

Description(s):

Buff fritware with carved decoration under a green glaze
Buff fritware with carved decoration under a green glaze; probably wheel thrown in sections.
Shape: Finely potted plain rim and cylindrical neck flaring toward the mouth. More coarsely potted ovoid body sits on a low foot ring base; stub remains of a handle on the shoulder.
Exterior: A freeze of carved decoration on the shoulder incorporates Arabic script (kufic) which is interspersed with an abstract vegetal pattern. Green translucent, crazed glaze covers the vessel surface from the rim to the lower body where it gathers in drips around the base.
Interior: Green glaze is applied to the upper neck and runs down towards the body.

Production
Place:

Egypt

Production
Place (legacy):

Egypt, potter, country

Technique(s):

throwing; whole
carving; exterior shoulder
glazing (coating); exterior; crazed, translucent, green
glazing (coating); interior neck/rim; crazed, translucent, green

Material(s):

fritware; whole
glaze; exterior; crazed, green, translucent
glaze; interior neck/rim; crazed, translucent, green

Dimension(s):

height, whole, 20.4, cm
width, whole, 14, cm
diameter, rim, 7, cm
diameter, base, 6, cm
weight, whole, 550, g

Acquisition:

bequeathed; 1950; Reitlinger, Henry Scipio

Inscription(s):

inscription; exterior body; carved; foliated kufic script in a frieze around upper body
label; loose inside vessel; black ink; ISCER/996; rectangular paper tie on label; Packing number allocated by Wendy Rose when object for move of Reitlinger collection from Maidenhead
label; inside vessel; blue ink, pencil; Rayy 13th century (blue ink); 18 (pencil); written on scrap of paper torn away from larger sheet

Alternative
Number:

packing number; ISCER 996; Packing number allocated when object left Maidenhead

Documentation:

Fehervari, Geza. 1973. Islamic Pottery, A comprehensive study based on the Barlow Collection.London: Faberp. 108
Cf. for vessel shape see Plate 58a, catalogue number 134

Watson, Oliver. 2004. Ceramics from Islamic Lands.London: Thames & Hudsonp. 284-5
Cf. for jar with identical green glaze and Arabic script decorative freeze on shoulder. Also see these pages for Ref. about this decorative type.

Philon, Helen. 1980. Early Islamic Ceramics: Ninth to Late Twelfth Centuries (Benaki Museum, Athens).London: Islamic Art Publications SAp. 263-282
Ref. for carved wares made in Egypt

Accession:

Object Number: C.411-1991
(Applied Arts)
(record id: 28932; input: 2001-05-21; modified: 2012-01-10)

Permanent
Identifier:

http://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/28932