Ca. 1550-1077 BC. New Kingdom. A blue-glazed faience bowl. It has a flat base and edges that flair outwards to a simple rim. It is glazed inside and out, and the exterior is decorated with floral motifs and a cartouche in black glaze. The floral motif is that of a lotus, with sharp triangles extending upwards from the base to mimic the waterborne flower. The lotus held important symbolism in ancient Egypt, beyond its natural beauty. In several creation myths the sun god emerges from a lotus flower at the dawn of time, and so they have an association with creation and the sun. It was also believed that consuming a lotus gave strength and power, and they were even taken to the grave - remains of the flower have been found in the tomb of Ramses the Great. They were also used in ornamental gardens, perfume manufacture, garlands, and their imagery was commonly used on the capitals of columns. The royal name within the cartouche is now illegible due to degradation of the black glaze over the centuries. Size: L:35mm / W:70mm ; 72g. From a London private family collection; formerly acquired on the UK art market in the 1960s - 1970s; thence by descent.