By the 10th century, a shift in decorative techniques is evident. The potters recognized that the gold lights noted on lustres were produced only when using certain colors and recipes; that is using silver rich lustre paints and glazes with richer quantities of lead. Gradually, the polychrome pots with varied metallic sheens were replaced by monochrome pots emphasizing the golden lights.
In addition, design elements changed. Instead of an overall design with repeating tiny flowers or patterns, the pots often displayed a single central animal figure--a bird, hare, gazelle--or a single human figure--a musician or dancer. Surrounding these figures is a background of contour panels. The patterns used on the older polychrome pots are still used in these pots, but now they appear as background elements to the story told by the central figure.
Sources
This project is based on the ongoing research of Trinitat Pradell and colleagues. The main sources utilized for the project are listed on the definition page for lustreware. A timeline for the Islamic civilization is also available for consultation.
An excellent source for further information about Islamic ceramics in general with much data on lustres is the Ashmolean Museum's Web-Based Teaching Course on Islamic Ceramics.
