Issue of the ‘Euromed – Ancient Mediterranean Villages’ stamps
As part of the issue of the ‘Euromed – Ancient Mediterranean Villages’ stamps by CTT – Correios de Portugal, S.A., a ceramic bowl of the collection of the Mértola Museum – Islamic Art was released.
This is a bowl with epigraphic decoration executed in the total dry-rope technique, dating from the 12th century Anno Domini. The design outlined in manganese is completely filled with white, turquoise-green and honey-coloured glaze. The central motif bears the inscription baraka (blessing) surrounded by a frieze of opposing typed palmettes (the word baraka is the most frequent invocation on total dry-rope ceramics) (in, Gómez Martinez, Susana, Mértola Museum – Dry-rope ceramics of Mértola, Mértola, Mértola Archaeological Site, 2002, page 71).