Pottery with epigraphic decoration in Gibraltar

The epigraphy is created with Kufic or Naskh calligraphy, which is more stylised and in italics. A variant of this decorative type is pseudo-epigraphy, strokes that although elegantly outlined giving the appearance of Arabic script, actually have no meaning.

On pottery, these epigraphic decorations are made using various techniques – stamping, painting, sgraffito, dry cord or enamelling. This type of ornamentation on domestic tableware carries important symbolic or religious value, using certain words or phrases that favour the preservation of food. The words that appear most frequently, are ‘al-yumm’ (fortune or happiness), ‘baraka’ (blessing), ‘al-muk’ (power) and ‘al-afiya’ (health).

The images show drawings of a dry cord chamber pot and two jugs painted with the same type of decoration.