Name of Object:

Hemispherical plate

Location:

Silves, Faro, Portugal

Holding Museum:

Silves Municipal Archaeology Museum

Date of Object:

Hegira 6th–7th century / AD 12th–13th century

Museum Inventory Number:

MMAS 00099

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Enamelled and glazed ceramic with decoration of intersecting lines in a star.

Dimensions:

Height 6.4 cm, diameter (of rim) 22.6 cm, diameter (of foot) 7.6 cm

Period / Dynasty:

Almohad

Provenance:

Castelo de Silves.

Description:

A fragment corresponding to a section of the body including part of the rim and the complete base. The rim has a lip semi-circular in cross-section and the base has a high foot-ring. It is made from pinkish beige paste. Both surfaces are coated in white enamel with a slight sheen. The interior surface has a motif of intersecting lines, painted green, creating eight equidistant spokes radiating from the centre. The quality and fine grain of the paste of this flattened hemispherical plate reflects the sophistication of domestic articles used in Silves in this period.

View Short Description

Hemispherical bowl from the Almohad period. It is decorated with a star painted in green consisting of eight evenly spaced spokes radiating from the centre. The quality and finesse of this piece suggest a refined environment and probable domestic use in the town on Silves during that time.

How date and origin were established:

From its archaeological context, stratigraphy and style.

How Object was obtained:

It has been housed in the museum since the excavation carried out in the 1980s.

How provenance was established:

Excavation carried out in the castle at Silves directed by Rosa Varela Gomes. Inventory number: Cast. Q 110/C3-3.

Selected bibliography:

Gomes, R. V., Palácio Almóada da Alcáçova de Silves, Lisbon, 2001, p.62.
Gomes, R. V., Silves (Xelb): Uma Cidade do Gharb Al-Andalus, Arqueologia e História (Séculos VIII–XIII), Lisbon, 1999.
Gomes, R. V., 'Silves (Xelb): Uma Cidade do Gharb Al-Andalus: A Alcáçova', Cadernos do Instituto Portuguès de Arqueologia, Lisbon, 2004, p.402.

Citation of this web page:

Maria da Conceição Amaral "Hemispherical plate" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;pt;Mus01_B;16;en

Prepared by: Maria da Conceição AmaralMaria da Conceição Amaral

Licenciada em História de Arte (Univ. Coimbra) e pós-graduada em Gestão Cultural nas Cidades (INDEG/ISCTE).
Entre 1993-2002, na Comissão Nacional dos Descobrimentos Portugueses, foi responsável pelo comissariado executivo, produção e gestão de grandes exposições e catálogos, e coordenadora de itinerâncias internacionais, realizadas em Portugal e no Estrangeiro. Destacam-se “Memórias Árabo-Islâmicas em Portugal”, “Culturas do Índico”, “Marrocos – Portugal: Portas do Mediterrâneo”. É sócia-gerente da empresa TerraCulta, Lda, onde desenvolve projectos de conceptualização, gestão e produção cultural. É Directora do Museu de Arqueologia de Silves e do Centro de Interpretação do Património Islâmico. É vice-presidente da Associação Multiculti – culturas do Mediterrâneo e integra a equipa portuguesa da Fundação Euromediterrânica Ann Lindh para o diálogo das civilizações.

Translation by: Gilla Evans
Translation copyedited by: Monica Allen

MWNF Working Number: PT 21

RELATED CONTENT

 Artistic Introduction

 Timeline for this item

Islamic Dynasties / Period

Almohads


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