Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Room 31 | Islamic Middle East gallery

Explore artefacts made over a period of more than 1000 years in the heart of the Islamic world.

Islamic Middle East gallery

The earthenware tradition

For over 500 years, Islamic potters used simple materials and techniques to make an astonishing range of decorated luxury pottery. The final appearance of these pots varies enormously, but all are made by ringing the changes on the same very basic techniques.

Vessels in red clay were covered in a white slip (a fine clay diluted to a creamy texture). The decoration could then be carved through the slip, or patterns in coloured slips applied. Finally the objects were covered with a thin layer of glaze (a glassy coat), which could be left transparent, or stained with metal-oxide colours.

Beaker with striped decoration (EA1956.89) Beaker with striped decoration (EA1956.89)   Dish with radial decoration (EA1956.182) Dish with radial decoration (EA1956.182)   Bowl with epigraphic decoration (EA1967.183) Bowl with epigraphic decoration (EA1967.183)
Bowl with petalled decoration (EA1956.91) Bowl with petalled decoration (EA1956.91)   Dish with incised fish (EA1956.141) Dish with incised fish (EA1956.141)   Bowl with vegetal decoration (EA1978.1742) Bowl with vegetal decoration (EA1978.1742)
Dish with paired birds (EA1956.120) Dish with paired birds (EA1956.120)   Bowl with incised radial decoration (EA1978.1745) Bowl with incised radial decoration (EA1978.1745)   Bowl with palmettes (EA1995.99) Bowl with palmettes (EA1995.99)
Bowl with polychrome splashed decoration (EA1956.61) Bowl with polychrome splashed decoration (EA1956.61)   Bowl with splashed decoration (EA1956.35) Bowl with splashed decoration (EA1956.35)   Bowl with epigraphic decoration (EA2005.30) Bowl with epigraphic decoration (EA2005.30)
Bowl with epigraphic decoration (EA1978.1758) Bowl with epigraphic decoration (EA1978.1758)   Bowl with dotted decoration (EA2005.31) Bowl with dotted decoration (EA2005.31)   Bowl with dotted and floral decoration (EA2005.33) Bowl with dotted and floral decoration (EA2005.33)
Bowl with animals and plants (EA2005.42) Bowl with animals and plants (EA2005.42)   Bowl with radial decoration (EA1956.139) Bowl with radial decoration (EA1956.139)   Footed bowl with vegetal decoration (EA1978.2158) Footed bowl with vegetal decoration (EA1978.2158)
Notice

Objects may have since been removed or replaced from a gallery. Click into an individual object record to confirm whether or not an object is currently on display. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis, so contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular Eastern Art object.

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