Islamic Ceramics Photos

The Islamic world has long produced a colorful range of ceramic plates and vessels. Those made in Iznik are on their own page (see link below). Note that Fritware is an earthenware clay into which ground glass is added so the final product is harder and forms at a lower temperature.

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Two earthenware bowls with Arabic inscription from Eastern Iran or Uzbekistan & bowl with horse & rider from Eastern Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.Earthenware bowl with birds from Eastern Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.Iraqi earthenware bowl by Khalid at Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Earthenware ewer with bird design from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Two earthenware bowls with Arabic inscription (800-1000) from Eastern Iran or Uzbekistan & bowl with horse & rider (c1000) from Eastern Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.Earthenware bowl with birds (800-1000) from Eastern Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.Iraqi earthenware bowl (9th-10thC) by Khalid at Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Earthenware ewer with bird design (9thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting from Neyshabur, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware dish with luster painting of bird from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware Sari ware bowl with birds from Northern Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.Earthenware disk with horse & cheetah from Eastern Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting (9th-10thC) from Neyshabur, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware dish with luster painting of bird (9th-10thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware Sari ware bowl with birds (c900-1200) from Northern Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.Earthenware disk with horse & cheetah (900-1000) from Eastern Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Glazed earthenware bowl with birds from Iran or Afghanistan at Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Earthenware dish painted with hare & palm fronds from Cairo, Egypt at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.Muslim earthenware bowl with rabbits at Toledo Museum of Art. Toledo, OH.Fritware bowl with luster painting of rabbit from Egypt at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Glazed earthenware bowl with birds (10thC) from Iran or Afghanistan at Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Earthenware dish painted with hare & palm fronds (10th-11thC) from Cairo, Egypt at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.Muslim earthenware bowl with rabbits (10thC) at Toledo Museum of Art. Toledo, OH.Fritware bowl with luster painting of rabbit (11thC) from Egypt at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Earthenware bowl with kufic script from Iran at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting from Khorasan, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting of peacock from Iran or Central Asia at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting of knot plus Arabic calligraphy from Northeast Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Earthenware bowl with kufic script (10thC or 11thC) from Iran at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting (10thC) from Khorasan, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting of peacock (10thC) from Iran or Central Asia at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting of knot plus Arabic calligraphy (10thC) from Northeast Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting from Neyshabur, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting from Neyshabur, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting with Arabic calligraphy from Neyshabur, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting with Arabic word for piety around four points of compass from Khorasan, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting (10thC) from Neyshabur, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting (10thC) from Neyshabur, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting with Arabic calligraphy (10thC) from Neyshabur, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting with Arabic word for piety around four points of compass (10th-11thC) from Khorasan, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting bird from Northern Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware bowl from Iran at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Footed earthenware bowl Iran at Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV.Earthenware bowl with horse & rider from Eastern Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Earthenware bowl with underglaze slip-painting bird (10th-11thC) from Northern Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware bowl (10thC) from Iran at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Footed earthenware bowl (10th-12thC) Iran at Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV.Earthenware bowl with horse & rider (c1000) from Eastern Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Earthenware dish painted with lute player from Cairo, Egypt at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.Earthenware dish painted with two birds from Iran at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.Earthenware bowl with bird design from Iran at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Earthenware bowls with underglaze slip-painting with Arabic word for blessing from Neyshabur, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Earthenware dish painted with lute player (11th-12thC) from Cairo, Egypt at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.Earthenware dish painted with two birds (11thC) from Iran at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.Earthenware bowl with bird design (11thC or 12thC) from Iran at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Earthenware bowls with underglaze slip-painting with Arabic word for blessing (early 11thC) from Neyshabur, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Earthenware bowl depicting bird & flowers from Iran at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Ceramic Turkish pendants & Islamic plaque at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Earthenware fritware ewer in shape of melon from Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.Glazed earthenware bowl with bird from Syria at Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.
Earthenware bowl depicting bird & flowers (11thC) from Iran at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Ceramic Turkish pendants (1092-1307) & Islamic plaque (14thC) at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Earthenware fritware ewer in shape of melon (1100-1300) from Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.Glazed earthenware bowl with bird (late 12th- early 13thC) from Syria at Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.
Enameled earthenware bowl with elephant & rider from Iran at Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Ceramic dish painted with eagle from Iran or Syria at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.Earthenware bowl with mythic winged sphinx with lion body & human face from Iran at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Fritware bull with underglaze slip-painting from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Enameled earthenware bowl with elephant & rider (late 12th- early 13thC) from Iran at Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Ceramic dish painted with eagle (12th-13thC) from Iran or Syria at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.Earthenware bowl with mythic winged sphinx with lion body & human face (12thC) from Iran at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Fritware bull with underglaze slip-painting (late 12th- early 13thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Fritware cockerel-headed ewer with underglaze slip-painting from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Luster Fritware decanter from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Luster Fritware decanter from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware molded bowl with overglaze painting from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Fritware cockerel-headed ewer with underglaze slip-painting (late 12th- early 13thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Luster Fritware decanter (late 12th- early 13thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Luster Fritware decanter (late 12th- early 13thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware molded bowl with overglaze painting (12thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Luster Fritware Haft-Sin dish from Rayy, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware bowl depicting lion from Iran at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Earthenware bowl with musicians from Iran at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Persian earthenware bowl with enameled riding archer at Toledo Museum of Art. Toledo, OH.
Luster Fritware Haft-Sin dish (late 12th- early 13thC) from Rayy, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware bowl depicting lion (12th-13thC) from Iran at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Earthenware bowl with musicians (c1200) from Iran at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Persian earthenware bowl with enameled riding archer (1200s) at Toledo Museum of Art. Toledo, OH.
Persian earthenware bowl with enameled royal court at Toledo Museum of Art. Toledo, OH.Fritware beaker with painting of dancing women from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Enameled earthenware bowl with couple from Iran at Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Earthenware vase with religious script from Iran at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.
Persian earthenware bowl with enameled royal court (1200s) at Toledo Museum of Art. Toledo, OH.Fritware beaker with painting of dancing women (1200-19) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Enameled earthenware bowl with couple (early 13thC) from Iran at Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.Earthenware vase with religious script (13thC) from Iran at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.
Fritware decanter with overglaze slip-painting from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware bowl with underglaze painting from Kashan, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware bowl with underglaze painting from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware incised & glazed pot with four handles from Neyshabur, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Fritware decanter with overglaze slip-painting (late 13thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware bowl with underglaze painting (early 13thC) from Kashan, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware bowl with underglaze painting (early 13thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware incised & glazed pot with four handles (early 13thC) from Neyshabur, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Luster Fritware bowl painted with mythical winged elephant from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Luster Fritware basin painted with fowl & rabbits from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Luster Fritware bowl painted with camel train from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware fritware star-shaped tile with phoenix from Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Luster Fritware bowl painted with mythical winged elephant (early 13thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Luster Fritware basin painted with fowl & rabbits (early 13thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Luster Fritware bowl painted with camel train (early 13thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware fritware star-shaped tile with phoenix (1292-3) from Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.
Ceramic bowl with Arabic Inscription from Egypt at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.Fritware bowl painted with Arabic script from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware bowl painted blue & brown with bird & Arabic script from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware tile painted blue & brown with two men from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Ceramic bowl with Arabic Inscription (14thC) from Egypt at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.Fritware bowl painted with Arabic script (early 14thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware bowl painted blue & brown with bird & Arabic script (14thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware tile painted blue & brown with two men (early 14thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Fritware frieze tile painted with phrase from Quran from Kashan Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware frieze tile painted with phrase from Quran from Kashan Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware building tile from Iran Central Asia at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware tiles from Syria mounted in French wooden frame at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Fritware frieze tile painted with phrase from Quran (early 14thC) from Kashan Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware frieze tile painted with phrase from Quran (early 14thC) from Kashan Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware building tile (late 14thC) from Iran Central Asia (now Uzbekistan) at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware tiles (15thC) from Syria mounted in French wooden frame (19thC) at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Fritware tiles from Damascus, Syria featuring mosque lamp at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware jar with underglaze slip-painting from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware pair of pharmacy jars painted with European armorial shields from Syria at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware pharmacy jar painted with European armorial shields from Syria at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Fritware tiles (17thC) from Damascus, Syria featuring mosque lamp at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware jar with underglaze slip-painting (14thC-15thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware pair of pharmacy jars (Albarrelli) painted with European armorial shields (15thC) from Syria at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware pharmacy jar painted with European armorial shields (15thC) from Syria at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Bowl with six-pointed star from Iran at Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV.Earthenware fritware dish with flower & leaf designs from Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.Partridge-shaped pitcher from Tabriz?, Iran at Sèvres National Ceramic Museum. Paris, France.Spanish Islamic ceramic plate with metallic luster decoration at Beaux-Arts Museum. Lyon, France.
Bowl with six-pointed star (end 14thC) from Iran at Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV.Earthenware fritware dish with flower & leaf designs (1450-1500) from Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.Partridge-shaped pitcher (oenochoé) (15thC) from Tabriz?, Iran at Sèvres National Ceramic Museum. Paris, France.Spanish Islamic ceramic plate with metallic luster decoration (late 15th-early 16thC) at Beaux-Arts Museum. Lyon, France.
Persian ceramic mosaic of lion attacking a cow at Seattle Art Museum. Seattle, WA.Gombroon ware bowl from Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.Kubachi ware bowl from Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.Muslim inscribed ceramic tiles, white from Syria & blue from Pakistan at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.
Persian ceramic mosaic of lion attacking a cow (15th-16thC) at Seattle Art Museum. Seattle, WA.Gombroon ware bowl (1500-1600) from Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.Kubachi ware bowl (1550-1650) from Iran at Asian Art Museum. San Francisco, CA.Muslim inscribed ceramic tiles, white from Syria (16th-17thC) & blue from Pakistan (18th-19thC) at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.
Collection of modern Iranian ceramics at Sèvres National Ceramic Museum. Paris, France.Iranian ceramic bottles bottles at Sèvres National Ceramic Museum. Paris, France.Ceramic base of hookah with jumping gazelles on floral ground from Iran at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.Tiled facade of a mosque from Punjab, Pakistan at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.
Collection of modern Iranian ceramics (16th-19thC) at Sèvres National Ceramic Museum. Paris, France.Iranian ceramic bottles (1600-50; 18thC; & 17thC) bottles at Sèvres National Ceramic Museum. Paris, France.Ceramic base of hookah with jumping gazelles on floral ground (17thC) from Iran at Pergamon Museum. Berlin, Germany.Tiled facade of a mosque (17thC) from Punjab, Pakistan at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.
Ceramic plate from Iran at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.Ceramic pear-shaped bottle from Iran at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.Fritware dish with underglaze painting from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware dish with underglaze painting of flowers from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Ceramic plate (17thC) from Iran at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.Ceramic pear-shaped bottle (17thC) from Iran at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.Fritware dish with underglaze painting (17thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware dish with underglaze painting of flowers (17thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Fritware ewer with underglaze painting of plant from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Luster Fritware ewer with painting of cock from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware bottle with raised design of hunter capturing lion with rope from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Reverse side of Fritware bottle with raised design of winged bull from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Fritware ewer with underglaze painting of plant (17thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Luster Fritware ewer with painting of cock (17thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware bottle with raised design of hunter capturing lion with rope (early 17thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Reverse side of Fritware bottle with raised design of winged bull (early 17thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Fritware dish with underglaze painting of court character from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware dish with underglaze painting of court lady from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware tile with over-glaze painting of section of man writing from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Panel of glazed earthenware architectural tiles Iran at Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV.
Fritware dish with underglaze painting of court character (early 17thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Fritware dish with underglaze painting of court lady (early 17thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Earthenware tile with over-glaze painting of section of man writing (17thC) from Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.Panel of glazed earthenware architectural tiles (17thC) Iran at Huntington Museum of Art. Huntington, WV.
Iranian ceramic plaque with man & woman riders at Beaux-Arts Museum. Lyon, France.Ceramic tile painting with mounted cavalier & mythical Simurgh bird from Isfahan, Iran at Sèvres National Ceramic Museum. Paris, France.Ceramic vase with building & birds from Iran at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.Fritware tile embossed & painted with Iranians in traditional dress of 1600s from Tehran, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Iranian ceramic plaque with man & woman riders (18th-19thC) at Beaux-Arts Museum. Lyon, France.Ceramic tile painting with mounted cavalier & mythical Simurgh bird (19thC) from Isfahan, Iran at Sèvres National Ceramic Museum. Paris, France.Ceramic vase with building & birds (19thC) from Iran at Brooklyn Museum. Brooklyn, NY.Fritware tile embossed & painted with Iranians in traditional dress of 1600s (2nd half 19thC) from Tehran, Iran at Aga Khan Museum. Toronto, ON.
Earthenware tiles with birds from Iran at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Earthenware tile with two Persian figures from Iran at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Stoneware vase in Turkish-Persian style by Andre Metthey at Ceramics Museum of Barcelona. Barcelona, Spain.Muslim flower-pattern ceramic tiles at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.
Earthenware tiles with birds (19thC) from Iran at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Earthenware tile with two Persian figures (19thC) from Iran at San Antonio Museum of Art. San Antonio, TX.Stoneware vase in Turkish-Persian style (1916) by Andre Metthey at Ceramics Museum of Barcelona. Barcelona, Spain.Muslim flower-pattern ceramic tiles at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.
Collection of Islamic & European glazed ceramic tiles at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.


Collection of Islamic & European glazed ceramic tiles at National Museum of Scotland. Edinburgh, Scotland.


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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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