This dish was created during the Abassid period in Iraq. The white clay slip used between the earthenware clay and the glaze used to mimic the pure whiteness of Chinese porcelain is the most technologically advanced element of this dish. This advancement allowed Islamic artisans to cover up the light brown color of earthenware clay and produce a product that was highly valued for its similarity to Chinese porcelain. The demand for Chinese porcelain was caused by the intense interest in the foreignness of the newly imported product.
While there is some Chinese influence, formally the dish has two common motifs found in Islamic art. The quote in the center is a blessing for the owner and this dish is one of the earliest examples discovered. The abstract vegetal design called palmettes frames the central quote. To summarize, this piece of ceramics shows how Islamic artisans imitated some elements of Chinese porcelain but the decorations follow in the tradition of Islamic ceramics
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