Vessel base

Description

A fragment of the base of a red-clay bowl on a low ring foot, from the group of glazed ceramics of the Byzantine circle. Decorated with a combination of engraving in the sgraffito technique under a monochrome light-yellow glaze and the champlevé technique. The inside is decorated with a central medallion bounded by two deeply cut concentric circles. In the centre is a wide cross with equal arms. In the four sectors between the arms of the cross are cut stylised elements resembling a geometricised letter "M"; a monogram with part of the name "MICHAEL", for example, is known from contemporary material. Sharp rays radiate from the medallion, forming a seven-pointed star, each ray filled with a geometric element. In the fields between the rays are motifs in the form of a stylised leaf with net hatching. The outlines of all figures are picked out in the reserve technique. The fragment is dated to the 14th century. Published by E. R. von Stern (Stern 1906, pl. VI: 54). Scientific description by Yaroslav Chentsov.