Who made this?
By Gracyn Benck '23
This bowl was probably made by a Fatimid craftsperson. The Fatimid empire was in Egypt and North Africa from 909-1171. Pre-Islamic cultural influence as well as the local Egyptian culture were reflected in many pieces of Fatimid metalwork. In the tenth century, Fatimid objects were relatively simple, but over time they developed a more distinctive design. The So-Called Crusader’s Bowl is similar in size and shape to other Fatimid objects; for instance, the bowl below. The Greek Crosses also point to Fatimid design being made for Christian patrons.