Bowl with Pseudo-Inscriptional Design

Unknown

10th century · Earthenware; white slip with polychrome slip decoration under transparent glaze · Islamic Art

The main decoration of this bowl contains a band of epigraphy that might be read as the graphic contraction of the word "bi ’l-yumn" ("with happiness") or "al-yumn" ("happiness"). The decorative aspect of the letters is clearly preeminent and goes to the detriment of their legibility, to the extent that the band might be regarded as a pseudo-inscription. However, such benedictory formulas were common on everyday objects of this period, such as pottery and metal.

Artist

Unknown

Date

10th century

Medium

Earthenware; white slip with polychrome slip decoration under transparent glaze

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Purchase, Rogers Fund, Lewis and Gemma Hall Gift, Louis E. and Theresa S. Seley Purchase Fund for Islamic Art, and Harvey B. Plotnick Gift, 2003