Syria, possibly Tell Minis, Zangid (1127–1251) or Ayyubid period (1171–1260) / 1100s
Dish with Falcon Attacking a Water Bird
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Dish with Falcon Attacking a Water Bird as ceramic (Syria, possibly Tell Minis, Zangid (1127–1251) or Ayyubid period (1171–1260) · 1100s).
Sanctioned by the Qur'an (5:4-6), falconry was for many centuries a favorite sport of Muslim rulers.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this ceramic as Fritware with carved decoration and underglaze design, Lakabi ware.
The museum's collection notes: The development of fritware in the Islamic world revolutionized ceramic production and was likely influenced by the import of Chinese porcelain. Fritware was largely made of quartz with small amounts of crushed glass and fine clay in order to produce a white body. The carved surface with raised outlines allowed glazes of different colors to be side by side without running together when fired.
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The Cleveland Museum of ArtDish with Falcon Attacking a Water BirdOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.