Fayoum hand-painted ceramic bowl · Metallic red abstract · Medium

Hand-painted Egyptian ceramic bowl from the Fayoum Pottery School, Tunis village. Wheel-thrown from Nile Valley clay, the medium footed form features bold abstract decoration in metallic red, deep blue and sage green on a speckled ivory glaze — expressive, fluid brushwork that reflects years of focus on developing this signature red glaze technique. 

The Craft. These bowls are wheel-thrown from clay sourced from the Nile Valley in Aswan and shaped into the footed form before the speckled ivory base glaze is applied. Each piece is decorated entirely by hand in a distinctive abstract style that departs from the more figurative tradition of Fayoum. A clear glaze is applied over the entire piece before kiln firing, sealing the painted surface in a fully glazed finish. The metallic quality of the red is the result of years of experimentation with firing temperatures and glaze chemistry - a signature achievement that makes these pieces immediately recognisable.

The Heritage. Although pottery-making was widespread in Egypt during Pharaonic times, by the late 20th century decreasing demand had led to the craft's near disappearance. Life in the farming village of Tunis in the verdant Fayoum oasis took a dramatic turn in the 1980s when Swiss-born potter Evelyne Porret made the village her home. Together with her husband Michel Pastore, she opened the Fayoum Pottery School, inspiring the village children to tap into their creative potential. Today, those students have opened their own workshops, exhibiting true artistic talent and reverence for their mentor whilst keeping the ancient craft alive.

Maker. A student of Evelyne Porret, Mohamed Gomah entered the Fayoum Pottery School as an eight-year old, after trading toy animals made from mud with Evelyne’s children. Mohamed is a prominent Fayoum potter and teacher, who has focused on developing his firing technique and a distinctive red glaze.