Abstract

A number of recent publications have shown that a small amount of Egyptian glazed table wares were imported throughout Palestine from the early centuries of Islam onwards. One of the oft-forgotten and least classifiable types is the problematically titled ‘Fayyumi’ ware, so-called for its supposed provenance in the Fayyum. ‘Fayyumi’ pottery was actually manufactured in Fustat (Old Cairo) and a reexamination of its many variations shows it was both influenced by Chinese-inspired Iraqi white wares and Coptic pottery traditions already extant in Egypt, warranting changes to both its name and variety of definitions. One of the issues which has plagued the discipline of Islamic Archaeology is the lack of useful typologies or published studies of Islamic ceramics. A gap in the methodological approaches and nomenclature used by art historians versus archaeologists has exacerbated this problem. Here the work of both groups is combined in order to create a comprehensive representation of the ‘Fayyumi’ material. The ceramics under study come from a range of archaeological sites from Nubia to northern Palestine, including the Mediterranean and Red Sea Coasts. This is combined with pieces in museums in Cairo and Athens, and bacini inset into the walls of churches in Italy. The result more clearly differentiates the variety of types often grouped together under the term ‘Fayyumi’, with implications for a reinterpretation of our understanding of the introduction and development of glazing techniques and styles in the early Islamic period.

Department

Arab & Islamic Civilizations Department

Degree Name

MA in Arabic Studies

Graduation Date

2-1-2012

Submission Date

February 2013

First Advisor

O'Kane, Bernard

Committee Member 1

Kenney, Ellen

Committee Member 2

Bacharach, Jere

Extent

197 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Islamic architecture -- Egypt -- Fayyūm -- History.

Library of Congress Subject Heading 2

Glazes -- Egypt -- Fayyūm.

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

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