Islamic Lustre Pottery

Timeline

1. 850–950Samarra–Baghdad region · IraqKilns in Abbasid Iraq applied metal oxides such as copper and silver over white or opaque glazes, firing a second time in oxidizing–reducing atmospheres to produce golden-brown or silver lustre; the technique later spread east to Iran and to Egypt.
2. 1000–1140Fustat · EgyptUnder Fatimid court patronage, Fustat kilns produced large quantities of lustre bowls and plates with calligraphic blessings and figurative bird and animal motifs, reaching a peak in craftsmanship and export scale; products reached Yemen and India's west coast via the Red Sea.
3. 1141–1150Fustat · EgyptDespite the continuing decline of Fatimid political authority in the 1140s, Fustat ceramic workshops maintained lustreware production; archaeological strata and surviving pieces show high-quality incised-and-filled wares combined with lustre during this period, serving local markets and Mediterranean trade.