Lustreware is a sophisticated decorative technique developed by Islamic potters beginning in the 8th century AD and used on pottery up until the last century. Ceramic vessels successfully treated with the lustre process radiate with a metallic shine. The Islamic potter and historian Abu'l Qasim described the effect about 1300, saying "That which has been evenly fired reflects like red gold and shines like the light of the sun."
Sources
This project is based on the research of Trinitat Pradell (Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya), Judit Molera (Universitat de Girona), Andy Smith (Daresbury Laboratory), and Michael S. Tite (RLAHA). Main sources are listed here.
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.
- The Islamic Historian Abu'l QasimFatimid Lustreware - Sotheby's
- Lustreware IllustratedPhotos of Sherd 9th Century Lustreware Sherd Showing Lustre
- Tang Dynasty InfluencesSancai Amphora - Tang Dynasty - Hong Kong Museum
- Lustreware History9th Century Lustreware Cup at the Louvre
- Lustreware Invention ProcessPotter Yoanis Habib uses a pottery wheel in a workshop February 20, 2003 in A'ali, Bahrain.
- Making Lustreware Traditional Pottery Making in Bahrain
- Chemical Processes Underlying LustrewareExperimental Kiln at the Synchrotron Radiation Source
- Islamic Saminid Period Plate - Late 9th-Early 10th CIslamic Saminid Period Plate - Late 9th-Early 10th C
- 9th Century Abbasid Lustreware CeramicsPolychrome Lustreware Cup - 9th century AD, Iraq
- 10th Century Abbasid Lustreware VesselMonochrome Lustreware Cup - 10th Century Iraq
- Lustreware Bowl, Fatimid Dynasty, 11th Century EgyptLustreware Bowl, Fatimid Dynasty, 11th Century Egypt
- Raqqa Bowl with Peacock Decoration 13th CenturyRaqqa Bowl with Peacock Decoration - 13th Century
- Graphic Index
- Text Index
