Mamluk Ceramic Bowl

This circular shaped bowl stands on a short foot with a slightly inverted lip, and is painted in a blue and black under glaze decoration consisting of geometric and calligraphic patterns. The interior presents a large central roundel enclosing a six-pointed star, from which ten rectangular panels radiate outwards, each bearing either a black Arabic inscription or blue dots with black cross-hatching. The rim of the bowl is decorated with a zig-zag band, and the exterior with stylized lotus leaves. The overall form and stylization of lotus leaves emulate imported Chinese celadon ceramics, which were considered luxury wares at the time. The distinctive blue and black palette as well as the radial panels are characteristic of ceramic production made in late 7th-8th century AH/ late 13th – early 14th century CE Syria, which were first experimented with at Raqqa and spread eastwards to Iran, and westwards to Damascus and other Syrian kilns sites.