9th International Festival of Popular Arts of Carthage. Ceramics 11th century

The 40 millime stamp features a piece of ceramic from the 11th century, an era corresponding to the height of the Fatimid and Zirid dynasties, when Tunisia was a major center of artistic innovation in the Mediterranean. The use of stylized animal motifs and sophisticated glazes on pottery from this period reveals the excellence of the Kairouan and Mahdia workshops, whose works were exported well beyond the borders of Ifriqiya. This program highlights the historical depth of national craftsmanship, showing that since the Middle Ages, Tunisian potters mastered complex firing and glazing techniques which still constitute the basis of the country's artistic identity today.