Canadian stamp stories

Crafted nearly 700 years ago in medieval Iran, the elegant, hand-painted ceramic bowl on this year’s Eid stamp became part of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) collection in 1909. Made during Ramadan – one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar – it would likely have served many owners over the centuries as a vessel for foods eaten to break the fast each night.

The bowl has a special connection to the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates the end of Ramadan. Made of stonepaste – a hard material invented by Middle Eastern potters from a mixture of ground quartz, glass and clay – it is inscribed with a dated poem written for its owner.

“There’s a deep sense of humanity in this bowl that still rings true, especially with all the turmoil in the world today,” says Dr. Fahmida Suleman, Islamic World curator at the ROM. “The poem urges us to take a moment to forget our sorrows and be grateful for what we have – and wishes us protection and a bit of luck. Blues are auspicious in Islam, so even the colours the artist chose were meant to uplift the soul.”