Bowl

Shallow faience bowl with an intense blue glaze. The flat rim of the bowl is painted black. The bowl is painted on the inside surface with figures outlined in black. In the center is a circle, divided into four sections; two are painted black, the other two left unpainted. Four lotus flowers project from the central motif. The lotus flowers each have three petals and look more like tridents than flowers. The four are separated by four tilapia fish, whose scales are indicated by a cross-hatch pattern and whose fins are rendered by a series of short lines radiating out from the top of each fish. The lotus flowers and the fish are very crudely painted and do not show any of the usual skilled freehand and flowing design typical of this type of faience bowl.

ā€¦ Read More

Historical period(s)
Modern, mid 19th-early 20th century
Medium
Glazed composition with paint
Dimensions
H x Diam: 4.3 Ɨ 17.3 cm (1 11/16 Ɨ 6 13/16 in)
Geography
Egypt
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1907.14
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Faience, Vessel
Type

Bowl

Keywords
Egypt, fish, forgery, lotus
Provenance

To 1907
Unidentified owner, Egypt, to 1907 [1]

From 1907 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased in Egypt from an unidentified owner in 1907 [2]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] See Original Pottery List, L. 1833, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

[2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919

Description

Shallow faience bowl with an intense blue glaze. The flat rim of the bowl is painted black. The bowl is painted on the inside surface with figures outlined in black. In the center is a circle, divided into four sections; two are painted black, the other two left unpainted. Four lotus flowers project from the central motif. The lotus flowers each have three petals and look more like tridents than flowers. The four are separated by four tilapia fish, whose scales are indicated by a cross-hatch pattern and whose fins are rendered by a series of short lines radiating out from the top of each fish. The lotus flowers and the fish are very crudely painted and do not show any of the usual skilled freehand and flowing design typical of this type of faience bowl.

Published References
  • Ann C. Gunter. A Collector's Journey: Charles Lang Freer and Egypt. Washington and London, 2002. p. 117, fig. 4.21.
Collection Area(s)
Ancient Egyptian Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Request Permission | Terms of Use

Related Objects