The Nasrid ‘Safa’

The Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife presents as the piece of this month the Nasrid ‘Safa’ (a kind of bowl) with drinking figures. Those interested in participating in this free activity, to be held every Saturday in December from 12:00 on, are invited to come to Room VII of the Museum of the Alhambra. The art historian Montserrat Morillas will reveal the specialties of this object of interest.
This glazed ceramic bowl is from the Nasrid period, from the 15th century. It shows a high-quality decoration, although it does not reach the exclusiveness of gold lusterware. The inside was giving a green glaze and the outside was left unglazed. Furthermore, the inside shows two figures, painted with manganese pigment. The scene with these figures, drinking a toast with their glasses, is depicted in a schematic way with lineal strokes. One of the two figures has a canteen in the hand and the other figure has a bottle and looks nearly frontally towards the spectator, whereas the first mentioned figure is depicted in profile. Their clothing has ‘stripes’ or ‘folds’.
The central part of this object has vegetal motifs, also schematically depicted. Due to images like this, with scenes from everyday life, we can obtain pictorial information about the Nasrid society.
This object shows certain influences of Christian pottery, which was being produced in the East of Spain during the same time, particularly in identical decorative topics.
Opening hours: Every Saturday in December, at 12:00 noon.
Location: Room VII, Museum of the Alhambra, Palace of Charles V.