ware is a type of

Persian pottery Persian pottery or Iranian pottery is the pottery made by the artists of Persia (Iran) and its history goes back to early Neolithic Age (7th millennium BCE). Agriculture gave rise to the baking of clay, and the making of utensils by the people ...

developed in Sultanabad, Iran, during the course of

Ilkhanid The Ilkhanate, also spelled Il-khanate ( fa, ایل خانان, ''Ilxānān''), known to the Mongols as ''Hülegü Ulus'' (, ''Qulug-un Ulus''), was a khanate established from the southwestern sector of the Mongol Empire. The Ilkhanid realm ...

rule in Persia.

Background

The Mongols, having conquered Persia during the early 13th century, sacked the

Abbasid The Abbasid Caliphate ( or ; ar, الْخِلَافَةُ الْعَبَّاسِيَّة, ') was the third caliphate to succeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib ...

capital of

Baghdad Baghdad (; ar, بَغْدَاد , ) is the capital of Iraq and the second-largest city in the Arab world after Cairo. It is located on the Tigris near the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon and the Sassanid Persian capital of Ctesiphon ...

in 1258, establishing the

Ilkhanate The Ilkhanate, also spelled Il-khanate ( fa, ایل خانان, ''Ilxānān''), known to the Mongols as ''Hülegü Ulus'' (, ''Qulug-un Ulus''), was a khanate established from the southwestern sector of the Mongol Empire. The Ilkhanid realm, ...

state. The Ilkhanate period (1258-1339) marked the introduction of a number of stylistic, iconographic and decorative innovations in Persian ceramics. These innovations were influenced by

Chinese ceramics Chinese ceramics show a continuous development since pre-dynastic times and are one of the most significant forms of Chinese art and ceramics globally. The first pottery was made during the Palaeolithic era. Chinese ceramics range from construc ...

and

Far East The ''Far East'' was a European term to refer to the geographical regions that includes East and Southeast Asia as well as the Russian Far East to a lesser extent. South Asia is sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons. The ter ...

ern textiles. Further, the technical proficiency of Persian ceramic art was advanced through collaboration among craftsmen from different traditions.

Ware

A 1930s archeological survey of villages in the vicinity of Sultanabad, Iran uncovered that the region was a major center of Ilkhanid ceramic industry. Ilkhanid ceramics distinguished by their heavy potting, along with thick translucent glaze were henceforth called Sultanabad ware. Sultanabad ware includes Colored Ground wares, ʿErāq wares, Black underglaze painted turquoise glazed wares, as well as blue and black Panel wares. Common motifs in Sultanabad ware include stylized blue and green foliage, pheasants or other birds, hares, deer. Mongol figures (often wearing feather caps) are rather more rare. The use of pseudo-inscriptions around the rims of the vessels and the Mongolian decorative themes, hint at the fact that the buyers of those wares were Turco-Mongolians. Although produced on a large scale, detailed and well preserved pieces are rare. ʿErāq wares showcasing the introduction of a pale blue underglaze colorants being a notable example.

Gallery

File:Bowl with strutting bird, Sultanabad ware, Iran, Ilkhanid period, first half of 14th century, earthenware with gray englobe and underglaze painting in blue, black, white slip - Cincinnati Art Museum - DSC04054.JPG, Bowl with strutting bird File:Iranian - Star with Wrestling Motif - Walters 481283.jpg, Star with wrestling motif File:Bowl with elephant and three phoenixes - Iran (Kashan ?) - 14th century - Sultanabad - Gulbenkian museum - Inv. 930.jpg, Bowl with elephant and three phoenixes File:Bowl with dancing dervishes, Sultanabad ware, Iran, Ilkhanid period, first half of 14th century, earthenware with underglaze painting in blue, black, white slip - Cincinnati Art Museum - DSC04052.JPG, Bowl with dancing dervishes

Footnotes

References

* * {{citation, last=Morgan, first=Peter, year=2012, chapter=IL-KHANIDS iv. Ceramics, title=Encyclopaedia Iranica, chapter-url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/il-khanids-iv-ceramics, location=New York, publisher=Encyclopædia Iranica online, title-link=Encyclopaedia Iranica Iranian pottery 13th century in Iran 14th century in Iran Ilkhanate