Bowl with Epigraphic Band in Kufic

Unknown

10th century · Earthenware; white slip with dark-brown, olive, and reddish-orange slip decoration, incised, under transparent colorless glaze · Islamic Art

Although coming from the antiquity market, this ceramic bowl is similar to examples excavated in a wide area, from Nishapur in Iran to Samarkand in present-day Uzbekistan. The cream-slipped surface bears a painted decoration, its main features being a large epigraphic band in kufic script, which appears to contain the word “Allah”, God, repeated eleven times. The inscription is executed with the base line towards the exterior and the shafts pointing towards a rosette in the cavetto.

Artist

Unknown

Date

10th century

Medium

Earthenware; white slip with dark-brown, olive, and reddish-orange slip decoration, incised, under transparent colorless glaze

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of M. Feltenstein, 2021