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Islamic Art :
Islamic Art. L : Glazed Earthenware Bowl
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Glazed Earthenware Bowl - JB.1139
Origin: Central Asia
Circa: 1200
BC
to 1300
AD
Dimensions:
2.5" (6.4cm) high
x 5.6" (14.2cm) wide
Collection: Islamic
Medium: Glazed Earthenware
£4,000.00
Location: Great Britain
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| Description |
Coarse stonepaste, celadon slip with blue-green
detailing beneath crackled, transparent glaze; a
deep well with steep, vaguely curved walls rising
from short foot-ring; glaze has collected in small
pool at centre of bowl; radial bands to cavetto with
single band beneath and parallel bands above.
The adoption of fritware – or stonepaste – in 12th
century radicalised ceramic production throughout
the Islamic empire. Abu ‘l-Qasim’s treatise of ACE
1301 describes its composition as ten parts ground
quartz, one part clay and one part glaze mixture. An
alkaline as opposed to lead glaze was applied.
The new-composite allowed for, among other
things, vessels to be thrown and turned to a
remarkable thinness, sometimes only two or three
millimetres thick. This bowl is testament not only to
the versatility of fritware but also, spread of new
technology throughout the empire.
Fritware was developed to compete with imported
Chinese wares that flooded the market via the Silk
Route, which had for centuries passed through
Central Asia. The shape and colour closely imitates
Chinese celadon.
However, it is difficult to say for sure whether the
base slip was initially white and has diminished over
time or due to some reaction with the surface
material or was always green. Though, it is known
that celadon was widely admired throughout the
empire and there are virtually no archaeological
sites in the near and Middle East where such
fragments have not been excavated.
This piece serves as a charming little piece of
evidence that potters were testing the realm of new
technologies in response to competition from
Chinese products. It encapsulates the response of
potters new influences and a desire to imitate and
adopt rather than ignore.
- (JB.1139)
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