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Bringing the Holy Land Home: The Crusades, Chertsey Abbey, and the Reconstruction of a Medieval Masterpiece

WAM 1913.17 Bowl

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What is this? By: Mary Powell '24
This is an medieval Islamic ceramic bowl. The images on the curving sides of the interior of the bowl are animals and birds with an iridescent glow, separated into eight symmetrical sections. Animals and birds are highly regarded in Islamic culture and these designs were often seen in ceramics from Rayy, Iran.
The colors consist of metallic lustre and deep blue which were heavily used during this time in Iranian, also known as Persian, ceramic bowls. Lustre beautifully outlines inscriptions and images. This bowl has vertical blue curves outlining the exterior, resembling a petal formation.
Another bowl that has blue along with shining lustre, and is divided into symmetrical sections, is this bowl from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The interior of the MET bowl contains vegetal designs, with delicate flower-like patterns. Both bowls are covered in deep blue dots within the larger designs. The blue pigmentation brings a warmth and deep contrast with the lighter colors used.
Lustreware Bowl (WAM 1913.17) By: Mary Powell '24

This small metallic bowl is exemplary of Islamic ceramics that widely circulated during and after the Crusades. The metallic "lustre" technique was unique to Rayy (modern day Tehran) and visually striking at a considerably lower cost than things like silver or gold metalwork. Ceramics such as this were commonly traded from local craftsmen to travelers or crusaders to bring home as an exotic new practical piece of dish ware.
How was this made?
By: Mary Powell '24

Ceramic bowls are made from clay. Sometimes pebbles or sand were used, along with glass fragments. When these ingredients were mixed together, they formed a very hard paste that was a perfect base layer for these Islamic ceramics. When making more refined ceramics, fancy glazes such as iridescent lustreware were used for detailing. At this time, the underglaze color was oftentimes a blue or turquoise, topped with lustreware.

Other examples of ceramics that underwent a similar process of production from the ancient city Rayy, Iran, include the WAM 1918.18 bowl and a bowl from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

WAM 1918.18 Bowl
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Where did this go? By: Mary Powell '24

The direct destination of this specific bowl is unknown but there are possible locations considering similar bowls that ended up traveling from Rayy, Iran. For instance, in medieval churches in Pisa, Italy, Islamic bowls from North Africa were built into the architecture, high up on the walls. These Islamic bowls in Pisa seem to have been admired for their color and form, and may also have been used to refer to both the trading and Crusading activities of the Pisan people.

After the Crusades, trade increased with European travel and it is very likely the ceramic bowl did not remain in the hands that made or gifted it.
Where was this produced? By: Mary Powell '24

The bowl’s rich colors and figural design tell us about what was usual in the time period and location in which the object was made. This ceramic beauty was probably thrown, glazed, and fired in Rayy during the 13th century. Rayy is an ancient city in Iran, which is now known as Tehran. Rayy was famous for its silks and ceramics. It was at the time one of the greatest cities in Iran due to its sacredness, distinctive beauty, and substantial popuation. On the map, Rayy is called Tehran because Tehran is the modern location for the ancient city and currently the capital of Iran.
When was this made? By: Mary Powell '24

This ceramic bowl was made in 13th century Rayy, Iran. Rayy is now known as Tehran. The details and colors used in this ceramic can be seen in other ceramics recovered from ancient Rayy, Iran. Tehran, which is located where the ancient city used to be, is the capital of Iran.
Why was this made, and how was it used? By: Mary Powell '24
This bowl has the dimensions: 4 x 8 1/4 inches. For context, that is about the size of a small bowl. A bowl of this size would have been used for eating smaller meals or snacks such as fruit or nuts. Serving prepared food in these types of bowls were the most common. Bowls of this design of curved walls are typical for this period.
What does this tell us about the Crusades?
By: Mary Powell '24

After the crusades, many Europeans became familiar with Rayy/Tehran due to that city's production of fine ceramics and silks. It is likely that this bowl was traded, which seems to have been the most common way that ceramics traveled in the Middle Ages. Trade was most common with ceramics, rather than movement due to gifting or war loot, because ceramics were not as highly sought after as gold or silk. However, the beauty of these bowls allowed for them to serve as gifts that European crusaders might bring home.

Presumably, if the bowl was traded or otherwise acquired during the crusades, it could have functioned not just as a bowl for feasts, but also a piece of art that could have been displayed for its visual qualities and its association with faraway lands.