Oriental - Islamic - Copper, Silver & Bronze

From 1037 to 1194, the Seljuks united Mesopotamia and most of Persia under their rule. During this period, the technique of decorating bronze vessels with inlaid silver or copper, or both, was developed in eastern Persia. From here the technique spread to Mosul (now Al Mawsil in northern Iraq) with which it became particularly associated. Syrian brass globe with silver inlay (about 1270)

Egyptian brass bowl with silver and gold inlay (15th century) In the thirteenth century, work of the Mosul type was done in Aleppo and Damascus in Syria. Ewers and other vessels were produced but the most common articles produced were broad based candlesticks for mosques. On the finest items, gold decoration was used rather copper.

From Syria, the technique spread to Egypt and, eventually, throughout Moslem North Africa.
 

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Oriental - Islamic - Ceramics

In the seventh century, Arab armies created an empire in the Middle East and around the Mediterranean. Artisans were able to move easily between the various states of this empire sharing ideas and techniques. One result was that for almost a thousand years, the Islamic countries produced some of the world’s finest ceramics.

The earliest Islamic pottery was decorated with incised patterns or patterns of applied clay but the Islamic potters greatly admired Chinese Tang Dynasty wares which reached the Arab countries by the "Silk Road of the Sea" across the Indian Ocean. At first, the whiteness of the Tang porcelain was imitated by covering earthenware with a mixture of tin oxide and a clear lead glaze - a technique used centuries earlier by the Egyptians. Using blue and green glazes, the Islamic potters produced wares closely resembling the Tang. However, the glazing techniques of the Arabs advanced rapidly and soon surpassed the Chinese.

Lustre bowl (9th century) The most important technique was the use of lustre. The technique of painting in lustre was developed by Syrian and Egyptian glassmakers who began applying it to pottery at the end of the ninth century. The technique was taken up by Mesopotamian potters who applied it particularly to relief moulded wares to imitate bronze, brass or gold. Samara and Baghdad became important pottery centres producing these lustre wares.

In the twelfth century, in an attempt to imitate Sung Dynasty porcelain, a way of producing a stronger, harder and whiter body than earthenware was developed. This material lent itself admirably to finely carved and pierced decoration and to painted designs with great linear control and tonal variety.

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Glass - Islamic

Glass making in Europe made no advances for almost a thousand years after the fall of the Roman Empire. But in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, the industry remained active.

With the establishment of the Islamic Empire in the seventh century, an Islamic style developed. In the eighth and ninth centuries, engraved and cut decoration was used. From the thirteenth century, a characteristic Islamic style of enamel painting, frequently with inscriptions in red, blue and white, appeared. Lamps, tall, narrow beakers and long-necked bottles were the most common items.

Syria remained an important centre but glass wares were also made in Egypt, Mesopotamia and Persia. In Egypt, heraldic motifs, such as cups or eagles set in medallions, were often included in the decoration along with the script used elsewhere.

 Syrian glass lamp (14th century)

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