MATERIALS

Materials

Ceramics

Ceramics

Within the field of ceramics, China was the great source of inspiration for the Middle East. Although Muslim potters never managed to make coveted porcelain, they did invent tin-glazed earthenware: faience. They further developed fritware, introduced lusterware and underglaze painting, and mastered many other decoration techniques.

In 13th-century Iran, there were so many different types of ceramics that no comparable variation was found until the 19th century, in Europe.

Although ceramics can break, it does not decompose and cannot be recycled, so this is the group of works of art from the Islamic world that is best preserved.

EXPLORE

EXPLORE
Close-item Close-overlay
ISLAMIC ART: CERAMICS

Islamic Art: Ceramics

Item no. 24 of 52
Btn-link Link to this page Btn-print Print this page

Fritware tile, molded and painted in red and with gold leaf over a blue glaze. Lajvardina type

Iran, Kashan; 2nd half of 13th century
H: 41.5; W: 38.5 cm

In around 1300, the writer Abu’l-Qasim, who came from a potter’s family in Kashan, called this type lajvardina – of lapis lazuli – although the glaze is based on cobalt. He noted that at this point, it had replaced minai ware. Both types were costly since they required two firings.

This tile and others formed a long frieze on a building. The combination of Chinese-inspired phoenixes – a motif that came to Iran with the Mongols – and a Koranic inscription is actually unusual. Only rarely are figurative motifs seen in religious contexts.

Inv. no. 12/1962