Glased Bowls in Byzantine Churches

Abstract

Glazed bowls were commonly used to enrich the facades of Greek churches in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, usually as focal ornaments in window tympana. The practice, which spread to Italy, was revived after the Latin Occupation, notably at Mistra *. In many cases, the bowls have fallen, or have been removed. The significance of those that survive for the chronology of Byzantine pottery has been remarked2 . On the other hand, as knowledge of this pottery has advanced, the presence of a well-known type has occasionally been used to give precision to the dating of the church it adorns. The subject still awaits a systematic survey. The present contribution is limited to three churches, where facilities for examining the surviving bowls at close quarters were available at the time of my visits. Their humble character will not, I hope, discourage others from examining such as exist in other churches.