Bowl

Art Historical Context

This small earthenware bowl displays a striking radial composition, its surface divided into eight triangular segments that radiate from the center. Alternating sections feature deep cobalt blue and creamy white grounds, accented by turquoise bands and intricate black motifs that include geometric knots, dotted patterns, and flowing calligraphic designs. The painting is executed on an opaque white ground beneath a transparent glaze, giving the surface a luminous yet slightly worn quality, with visible cracks and repairs that hint at its age. Created in the first half of the fourteenth century by an unknown artist, the bowl belongs to the Metropolitan Museum’s collection of Islamic Art. It exemplifies the refined ceramic traditions of that era, when potters skillfully combined bold color contrasts with delicate surface decoration to transform everyday objects into works of art. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1910, this piece invites viewers to appreciate the enduring beauty of its geometric harmony and the technical mastery of its underglaze technique.