The vogue for imitating contemporary metalwork designs, current in Syria during the early medieval period, continued during the 14th century on some Syrian underglaze-painted ware. The principal decoration on this large jar consists of a wide band in which a ground of tightly curled spirals bears an Arabic inscription in thuluth script: " Lasting glory, increasing prosperity, and good fortune." Thuluth is a cursive script characterized by tall elegant verticals. Similar wide bands bearing bold thuluth inscriptions inlaid with silver on a ground or engraved or chased spirals—all positioned between decorative borders—were common on contemporary metalwork from Syria and Egypt.