This fragment of a bowl is dated to the 12-13th centuries and may be Egyptian or Syrian in origin. I

This fragment of a bowl is dated to the 12-13th centuries and may be Egyptian or Syrian in origin. It is associated with the development and popularization of underglaze painting in a style often called Raqqa ware. The surviving decoration on the internal base of the bowl is a hare in motion within a dotted and lined border. The hare is outlined in black with large areas of blue and some areas of red-brown. The black pigment is chromite, the blue cobalt and the red-brown is likely a ferric-oxide.The previous restoration, which included overpaint, fill, and adhesive, was removed from the object following chemical testing and identification. The dark staining prevalent on the left half of the ceramic was tested for solubility using various cleaning agents and poultice materials. Several generally effective approaches did not mobilize the stain, indicating that it may be iron. A chelator was then used to specifically target this stain by binding to the iron. After clearing the object to remove all treatment residues, the two pieces were adhered with a reversible acrylic. The area of loss was then filled and in-painted based on conversations with the curator.Posted by Kate McEnroe  -- source link

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