Bowl with Pseudo-Inscriptional Design

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 453

The main decoration of this bowl contains a band of epigraphy that might be read as the graphic contraction of the word "bi ’l-yumn" ("with happiness") or "al-yumn" ("happiness"). The decorative aspect of the letters is clearly preeminent and goes to the detriment of their legibility, to the extent that the band might be regarded as a pseudo-inscription.
However, such benedictory formulas were common on everyday objects of this period, such as pottery and metal.

Bowl with Pseudo-Inscriptional Design, Earthenware; white slip with polychrome slip decoration under transparent glaze

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Bowl with Pseudo-Inscriptional Design, Earthenware; white slip with polychrome slip decoration under transparent glaze
Bowl with Pseudo-Inscriptional Design, Earthenware; white slip with polychrome slip decoration under transparent glaze
Bowl with Pseudo-Inscriptional Design, Earthenware; white slip with polychrome slip decoration under transparent glaze
Bowl with Pseudo-Inscriptional Design, Earthenware; white slip with polychrome slip decoration under transparent glaze
Bowl with Pseudo-Inscriptional Design, Earthenware; white slip with polychrome slip decoration under transparent glaze
Bowl with Pseudo-Inscriptional Design, Earthenware; white slip with polychrome slip decoration under transparent glaze
Bowl with Pseudo-Inscriptional Design, Earthenware; white slip with polychrome slip decoration under transparent glaze
Bowl with Pseudo-Inscriptional Design, Earthenware; white slip with polychrome slip decoration under transparent glaze

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.