Cup with Running Ibexes
To create "silhouette ware," an object of white clay is covered with a special black slip made with the mineral chromite. The slip is carefully removed or incised to create an image. After an initial firing, the vessel is dipped into a transparent turquoise glaze and fired again. In addition to creating a striking color contrast, this overglaze saturates the chromite slip, transforming it from a matte gray brown into an intense black.
Credit: Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1967
Second half 12th century
Stonepaste; incised decoration through black slip ground under turquoise glaze ("silhouette ware")
12.7in
67.104
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019
Where you'll find this
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection