Bol signed by Ahmed Serghini, La Madeleine, Safi, Morocco.

Here is a lovely antique bowl made of glazed ceramic with a beautiful night blue geometric design highlighted by a black line. It is signed underneath "Ahmed Serghini". The Serghini pottery in Safi, Morocco, has been in existence since 1832, spanning 8 generations (check their website for both the history of the family workshop and their production; it’s wonderful!). Ahmed Serghini is the representative of the 7th generation; he created ceramics from 1966 to 2002 and opened the doors of museums, including the British Museum, to Moroccan pottery. What is very surprising about this bowl is that it bears the mention "La Madeleine", whereas I found it alongside its "twin" which mentions Safi (also for sale here). Unfortunately, I have not yet managed to discover why this particular mention exists, so the investigation continues. This bowl shows signs of age; I imagine it dates from the 60s or 70s, but I would have thought it older if I hadn’t been able to date it thanks to the signature. It is in generally good condition, sturdy, with no cracks, but it does not hide the patina of time and life’s accidents: there are cracks and stains inside, numerous chips on the rim, and a chip on the base of the bowl. To ensure it has many more beautiful years of life, I will not use it as a food container, but rather as a catch-all or simply as a decorative object and a testament to the past of Moroccan ceramics, or to complement a collection of Safi ceramics or ceramics from around the world. It measures 13 cm in diameter and 7 cm in height.