Bowl with Face

Unknown

10th–13th century · Earthenware, glazed and sgraffito · Medieval Art

The small slipware bowl, meant for domestic use, shows the face of an unidentified, bearded man on its interior. The work is typical of Byzantine slipware where the red clay body of a vessel was covered with slip (liquid clay) that was then cut away, or incised with lines, to create an image. Here the slip was cut away to form the outline of the triangular face with its staring eyes, beard and other details incised in the remaining slip.

Artist

Unknown

Date

10th–13th century

Medium

Earthenware, glazed and sgraffito

Culture

Byzantine

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Gift of Dr. Marilyn Jenkins-Madina, in loving memory of her husband, Professor Maan Z. Madina, 2018