Hemispherical plate
Silves, Faro, Portugal
Silves Municipal Archaeology Museum
Hegira 6th–7th century / AD 12th–13th century
MMAS 00099
Enamelled and glazed ceramic with decoration of intersecting lines in a star.
Height 6.4 cm, diameter (of rim) 22.6 cm, diameter (of foot) 7.6 cm
Almohad
Castelo de Silves.
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 DescriptionHemispherical 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.
From its archaeological context, stratigraphy and style.
It has been housed in the museum since the excavation carried out in the 1980s.
Excavation carried out in the castle at Silves directed by Rosa Varela Gomes. Inventory number: Cast. Q 110/C3-3.
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.
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
MWNF Working Number: PT 21
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