Islamic PotteryIslamic Pottery

oror

Pottery of the Arab WorldPottery of the Arab World

*Photograph scans in this presentation are from Pottery of the *Photograph scans in this presentation are from Pottery of the Islamic World In the Tareq Rajab Museum, Geza Fehervari, 1998.Islamic World In the Tareq Rajab Museum, Geza Fehervari, 1998.

Defining Islamic/ArabDefining Islamic/Arab

Islamic pottery: Islamic Empire Islamic pottery: Islamic Empire ( Iran, Turkey and Spain)( Iran, Turkey and Spain)

Arab world pottery: would Arab world pottery: would include, Phoenician, Egyptian, include, Phoenician, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, etc..etc..

Pre-Islamic pottery Pre-Islamic pottery typestypes Unglazed, Unglazed, unsophisticated unsophisticated everyday wareseveryday wares Moulded, relief or paintedMoulded, relief or painted

Methods:Methods:

HandHand WheelWheel MoldMold Drying: some vessels were Drying: some vessels were

cracked and wrappedcracked and wrapped Firing: 900-1000 CFiring: 900-1000 C

Decorating pots:Decorating pots:

StampsStamps Slips sgraffiato incised through the slip to the Slips sgraffiato incised through the slip to the

potpot AppliquéAppliqué Painting- under glaze: decorating under the Painting- under glaze: decorating under the

glaze, usually blue and black- this technique glaze, usually blue and black- this technique later developed into the Iznik style pottery.later developed into the Iznik style pottery.

Over glaze: decorating after the pot has been Over glaze: decorating after the pot has been fired, requires another firing(600-700 C)fired, requires another firing(600-700 C)

In-glaze: early Islam, opaque white In-glaze: early Islam, opaque white glaze(powder like), pigment of cobalt blue for glaze(powder like), pigment of cobalt blue for decorating, liquid was absorbed from the decorating, liquid was absorbed from the pigment and thus it became one with the glaze.pigment and thus it became one with the glaze.

GlazingGlazing

can be done once the pot is dried or after firing, firing can be done once the pot is dried or after firing, firing makes the pot strongermakes the pot stronger

( if there is a puddle of glaze in the center then the ( if there is a puddle of glaze in the center then the pot was upright when fired, if there is some gathered pot was upright when fired, if there is some gathered at the rim the pot was fired face down)at the rim the pot was fired face down)

TransparentTransparent Or opaque: tin oxide(imitating the Chinese porcelain)Or opaque: tin oxide(imitating the Chinese porcelain) How was the glaze made?How was the glaze made? Two materials were combined, and heated until dry Two materials were combined, and heated until dry

then crushed into a powder . water or vinegar was then crushed into a powder . water or vinegar was added to make the glazeadded to make the glaze

toxic materials!toxic materials! Firing once again:Firing once again:

Open firing:Open firing: http://islamicceramics.ashmolean.http://islamicceramics.ashmolean.

org/Technology/firing-kiln.htmorg/Technology/firing-kiln.htm

Kiln firing:Kiln firing: http://http://

islamicceramics.ashmolean.org/islamicceramics.ashmolean.org/Technology/firing-kiln.htmTechnology/firing-kiln.htm

pre and early Islamic pre and early Islamic periods 2nd - 8th periods 2nd - 8th centurycenturyFaience- originated in EgyptFaience- originated in Egypt

early Abbasid period: early Abbasid period: Iran, Iraq and Central Iran, Iraq and Central Asia(9th to early 11th Asia(9th to early 11th century)century) Lead glazed relief wareLead glazed relief ware Origin is RomanOrigin is Roman EarthenwareEarthenware Moulded decorationMoulded decoration Imitating metal vesselsImitating metal vessels

Lead glazed relief ware-Lead glazed relief ware-SyriaSyria RomanRoman Earthen wareEarthen ware Moulded decorationMoulded decoration Imitating metal vesselsImitating metal vessels

Splashed wareSplashed ware

Surface decorations of green, Surface decorations of green, brown, yellow under transparent brown, yellow under transparent glaze.glaze.

Inspired and related to Chinese Inspired and related to Chinese T’ang period polychromeT’ang period polychrome

Opaque white or tin Opaque white or tin glazedglazed Imitating Chinese white porcelainImitating Chinese white porcelain Cobalt blue (Iraq)Cobalt blue (Iraq) Copper green, yellow, inscriptions Copper green, yellow, inscriptions

(Iran)(Iran)

Slip painted ware- IranSlip painted ware- Iran

Slip applied to prevent the color Slip applied to prevent the color from running.from running.

Nishapur polychrome(humans)Nishapur polychrome(humans) Manganese purple over Manganese purple over

white(Kufic)white(Kufic) Polychrome on white ground slip, Polychrome on white ground slip,

red, yellow and greenred, yellow and green Yellow staining black wareYellow staining black ware

Lustre-paintingLustre-painting

Already used by the Copts of Already used by the Copts of EgyptEgypt

Brown, red, and yellow colorsBrown, red, and yellow colors

•

Fatimid period in Fatimid period in Egypt and North Africa Egypt and North Africa ( 10th - 12th century)( 10th - 12th century)

golden age of pottery golden age of pottery productionproduction

Colored monochrome glazeColored monochrome glaze

Yellowish or red earthenwareYellowish or red earthenware

Coated with color monochrome glazeCoated with color monochrome glaze

Decorated with incised floralsDecorated with incised florals Lustre painted waresLustre painted wares North African polychrome painted North African polychrome painted

in glaze waresin glaze wares

Lustre painted waresLustre painted wares Figural designs, every day Figural designs, every day

activitiesactivities Elaborate drawingsElaborate drawings Baytar(10-11)Baytar(10-11)

North African polychrome painted North African polychrome painted in glaze wares(Morroco, in glaze wares(Morroco, Algeria,Tunisia, Libya, and Spain)Algeria,Tunisia, Libya, and Spain)

Development of splashed wareDevelopment of splashed ware Yellow, manganese against a Yellow, manganese against a

mustard or dark yellow mustard or dark yellow backgroundbackground

Iranian Sgraffiato(11th- Iranian Sgraffiato(11th- 13th)13th)

the Seljuk period of the Seljuk period of Iran(11th-13th)Iran(11th-13th)

1- Sgraffiato- Egyptian Copts1- Sgraffiato- Egyptian Copts Designs are carved out then Designs are carved out then

glazed with transparent glazeglazed with transparent glaze Amol ware- Caspian sea- green, Amol ware- Caspian sea- green,

red lead glazered lead glaze Champleve- incised out of the slipChampleve- incised out of the slip Aghkand ware- polychrome Aghkand ware- polychrome

sgraffiato- animals and birdssgraffiato- animals and birds

Bamiyan bowls- large pedastal Bamiyan bowls- large pedastal characterized by manganese and green characterized by manganese and green splashes.splashes.

2- composite white fritwares, Seljuk white,2- composite white fritwares, Seljuk white,

3- silhouette wares evolved from 3- silhouette wares evolved from champlevechampleve

Designs were painted rather than incising.Designs were painted rather than incising.

4- lustre ware-4- lustre ware-

Ayyubid ceramics of Ayyubid ceramics of Syria and Egypt Syria and Egypt ( 12th=13th)( 12th=13th)

Laqbi, l’abi- partially incised and Laqbi, l’abi- partially incised and partially relief- plates or dishes-partially relief- plates or dishes-birds or animals.birds or animals.

SgraffiatoSgraffiato MonochromeMonochrome underglazedunderglazed Blue and white waresBlue and white wares

The ilkhanid and timurid The ilkhanid and timurid pds of Iran and central pds of Iran and central asia 13th -16th asia 13th -16th MonochromeMonochrome Lustre: changes, rounded flaring sides, cobalt blueLustre: changes, rounded flaring sides, cobalt blue Underglazed Underglazed Sultanabad pottery- Sultanabad pottery- A-grey slip, designs were moulded and reserved in white A-grey slip, designs were moulded and reserved in white

with black outlineswith black outlinesB- painted in two colors black, cobalt blue(blue)- rounded B- painted in two colors black, cobalt blue(blue)- rounded

sides, with everted and inverted flat rimssides, with everted and inverted flat rimsC-round bowls with flaring sides in two or three colors C-round bowls with flaring sides in two or three colors

under a clear glazeunder a clear glazeChange in Minai ware, black, white and red, relief Change in Minai ware, black, white and red, relief

designs;designs;New types introduced: blue and whiteNew types introduced: blue and white

Mamluk ceramics of Mamluk ceramics of LebanonLebanon( 13th- 16th)( 13th- 16th)

Glazed : sgraffito, slipped beneath Glazed : sgraffito, slipped beneath a lead glazea lead glaze

Yellow and green glazeYellow and green glaze Yellow and brown slipYellow and brown slip ; lead glaze; tin glaze; alkaline ; lead glaze; tin glaze; alkaline

glazeglaze unglazedunglazed

Hispano Moresque Hispano Moresque ceramics of Spain 13th-ceramics of Spain 13th-18th 18th Malaga- production centersMalaga- production centers Moorish patterns were Moorish patterns were

replaced by Europeanreplaced by European

coat of arms, ships and coat of arms, ships and

animalsanimals

Safavid and Qajar Safavid and Qajar Ceramics(18th-19th)Ceramics(18th-19th)

Kubachi wares: several types, blue, black and Kubachi wares: several types, blue, black and green; blue scrollwork and flowers, green; blue scrollwork and flowers, polychrome, human, landscapespolychrome, human, landscapes

Celadon imitations:Celadon imitations: Blue and white Kirman polychrome; black Blue and white Kirman polychrome; black

was used to outline the designswas used to outline the designs Late lustre:lost appeal in 14Late lustre:lost appeal in 14thth century gained century gained

some back: chocolate brown, copper red some back: chocolate brown, copper red even pinkisheven pinkish

Gombroon: finest wares,fine and thin faience Gombroon: finest wares,fine and thin faience body; open work similar to Chinesebody; open work similar to Chinese

Qajar polychrome: mid 19Qajar polychrome: mid 19thth water pipe base, water pipe base, flowers,flowers,

Ceramics of Ottoman Ceramics of Ottoman Turkey (16th-19th)Turkey (16th-19th)

Iznik major pottery centerIznik major pottery center Iznik pottery : polychrome in red, Iznik pottery : polychrome in red,

blue, green and whiteblue, green and white

Morrocan ceramic(18th- Morrocan ceramic(18th- 19th19th

Little is known about early production of Little is known about early production of this type until the 17this type until the 17thth century century

Fes was an important centerFes was an important center When Granada fell potters moved to When Granada fell potters moved to

MoroccoMorocco PolychromePolychrome Large bowls, ewers and dishesLarge bowls, ewers and dishes Yelow, or white groundslip painted with Yelow, or white groundslip painted with

blue, green and black; floral and blue, green and black; floral and geometricgeometric

Modern pottery:Modern pottery:

Jerusalem potteryJerusalem pottery

Interesting audio:Interesting audio: Changing times jeopardize Lebanon's long Changing times jeopardize Lebanon's long

relationship with potteryrelationship with potteryhttp://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=97188

Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

BookBook

http://books.google.com/books?id=B2f0PX1bi18C&pg=PA18&lpg=Phttp://books.google.com/books?id=B2f0PX1bi18C&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=Museum+of+Islamic+Pottery,&source=bl&ots=dBBh8YXCA18&dq=Museum+of+Islamic+Pottery,&source=bl&ots=dBBh8YXCZL&sig=6AKRK_2GGDvjQa2elmgiiiaptQE&hl=en&ei=R0sCSty0CIGUZL&sig=6AKRK_2GGDvjQa2elmgiiiaptQE&hl=en&ei=R0sCSty0CIGUMsP-1eEH&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9#PPA23,M1MsP-1eEH&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9#PPA23,M1

Museum collection Museum collection http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1158658353493&pagename=Zone-English-YoC&cid=1158658353493&pagename=Zone-English-Youth%2FYTELayoututh%2FYTELayout

Article:Article: http://www.asia.si.edu/collections/islamicHome.htmhttp://www.asia.si.edu/collections/islamicHome.htm Study:Study: http://islamicceramics.ashmolean.org/http://islamicceramics.ashmolean.org/