Faience bowl

Unknown

2nd–1st century BCE · faience · Greek and Roman Art

The decorative scheme of this bowl, large petals separated by triangular zones of stacked ferns or pine cones, illustrates the close correspondance between faience and Megarian wares, two types of kiln fired objects ornamented with designs normally associated with silver vessels.While Megarian bowls were made in many places within the Mediterranean basin, faience seems to have been produced solely in Egypt, most likely Alexandria, its artistic and commercial center during the Hellenistic period.The broad appeal of faience bowls, therefore, is attested by their diverse geographical find-spots, such as; the Greek island of Rhodes, Asia Minor (Turkey), Palastine and, Apulia in Southern Italy.

Artist

Unknown

Date

2nd–1st century BCE

Medium

faience

Culture

Greek, Ptolemaic

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917