Near East, northeastern Syria, likely Raqqa or Rakka, Ayyubid dynasty, ca. early 13th century CE. A dazzling pottery bowl featuring a deep turquoise blue glaze over a black manganese painted surface to display beautiful calligraphic decoration of Arabic Thuluth script. Now enveloped in shimmering layers of rainbow and silver iridescence, the bowl stands atop a pedestal foot with flared walls and inward-curving rim. Four sections of Arabic script adorn the exterior, while several concentric circles of Thuluth embellish the interior walls and central basin. A truly stunning example of medieval Syrian artistry! Size: 8" L x 8.4" W x 3.3" H (20.3 cm x 21.3 cm x 8.4 cm)

Similar underglaze painted objects are usually attributed to Raqqa, a town on the Euphrates in northeast Syria, from which a large number appeared on the market since the end of the 19th century. While some of the workshops were located there, as the unearthing of a large number of wasters confirms, others were located elsewhere along the Euphrates valley, in southern Anatolia, central Syria, Damascus and as far as Egypt. Raqqa pottery was relatively unknown in Europe until the late-19th century when the kiln site was discovered. The Syrian city of Raqqa was the home of Harun al-Rashid, Abbasid caliph and protagonist of "The Thousand and One Nights," and, although he lived during the 9th century, this connection sparked 19th century interest in Raqqa's ceramics.

Please note: items from Syria are not eligible for international shipping due to the US embargo on Syria.

Provenance: private Young collection, New Hampshire, USA since 2003

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#182740

Professionally repaired with some chipping along visible break lines. Chipping to rim and one area of exterior walls, as well as expected nicks and abrasions commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent presentation with nice remaining pigments and gorgeous iridescence.