Artwork
Bowl

Bowl is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1450 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The artwork, created in 1450, depicts a coat of arms as its primary subject. This heraldic imagery serves as the central iconographic element of the painting, representing a specific family or institutional identity through its symbolic design. The focus on the coat of arms suggests the work's function was likely commemorative or demonstrative of status rather than narrative.
History & Provenance
The work, dated to 1450, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It is cataloged under the accession number 56.171.156. The painting depicts a coat of arms and is attributed to an anonymous artist. No specific exhibition history is recorded in the provided sources.
Overview
The work presents a painted ceramic bowl whose surface is dominated by a white background enlivened with blue and brown motifs. Central to the composition is a heraldic shield split into two fields: a blue half on the left and a white half on the right, each bearing a distinct emblem. Surrounding the shield are stylised floral and foliate designs that frame the central device.
Technique & Style
The blue and brown pigments were applied in layered washes, creating a contrast that highlights both the heraldic charge and the surrounding flora.
The piece exemplifies medieval pottery techniques, likely produced by slip-painting on a glazed white earthenware body. The blue and brown pigments were applied in layered washes, creating a contrast that highlights both the heraldic charge and the surrounding flora. The overall style aligns with the decorative conventions of late medieval ceramic art in which intricate surface painting was prized.
Artist & collection


















