Boat-Shaped Bowl with Human Head and Animals

Unknown

late 11th–12th century · Stonepaste; molded, opaque white glaze · Islamic Art

This small whiteglazed bowl is in the shape of a bird with a human face. Its body is decorated with delicate reliefs: a frieze of animals running along the rim, and a medallion on each side containing a human figure. The face with its almond-shaped eyes is clearly of the Seljuk type. Its application to what appears to be the body of a bird recalls the mythological figure of the harpy, which can frequently be found in Islamic art and probably goes back to Central Asian sources.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 11th–12th century

Medium

Stonepaste; molded, opaque white glaze

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Harry Dick Brisbane Fund, 1963