ATAIFOR WITH BIRD
Christian Middle Ages
ATAIFOR WITH BIRD
Glazed ceramic in green on white. Untreated exterior.
Diameter of mouth: 23.5 cm. Height: 8.8 cm. Base diameter: 9 cm.
Late Medieval Christian. 14th century.
Origin
Plaza de Belén. Jerez de la Frontera. Cádiz.
Description
This piece was made in a workshop in Lower Andalusia, Seville or perhaps even Jerez itself. It is a direct descendent of Hispano-Muslim products both in typology and decoration. It has a ring-shaped foot, inverted truncated conical body and marked carination from where the lip becomes a thickened rim. A bird, possibly a peacock, is depicted on the interior. The treatment of the figure is reminiscent of depictions of these animals both in Islamic ceramic and contemporary Valencian ceramic in green and manganese. Birds symbolise the soul in most cultures - particularly in Islam, souls of the faithful make the journey to Paradise in the form of green-feathered birds. This could have been passed down to Mudejar pottery tradition.
Bibliography
- Martín Mochales, D. (2009): Memoria final de la actividad arqueológica preventiva realizada en Plaza de Belén de Jerez de la Frontera. Delegación Provincial de Cultura de la Junta de Andalucía. Cádiz. Appendix 1. Estudio de materiales.
