Abbasid Ingenuity: The Blue-on-White Bowl

Under the Abbasids (132–656 AH/750–1258 CE), trade across the Indian Ocean reached new heights, benefitting from the caliphate’s commercial prosperity and, by extension, its increased political stability. From their new capital in Baghdad, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Abbasids had direct access to the Indian Ocean via the port of al-Ubullah, near Basra. To the east, the rise of the Tang and Song dynasties (618–907 CE and 960–1279 CE) in China brought a similar period of political stability and economic prosperity. This environment stimulated demand for exotic luxury goods among urban elites from both ends of the imperial nexus, resulting in the development of an international trading network that linked Abbasid Iraq with Tang China.

Chinese ceramics were one of the goods that frequently found their way across the Indian Ocean into Iraq. The Gulf region exported mainly pearls, horses and agricultural products, in particular date molasses, a rich, syrup-like, natural sweetener made from pressed dates, known as دبس (dibs). This ingredient was highly praised in Chinese pharmacopeia for its special healing properties. The demand for fresh dates, date molasses, honey and other commodities had huge economic implications for the region with its rich flora and fauna.

From Inspiration to Creation

Fascinated by China's highly prized luxury products, Iraqi potters quickly began to develop local equivalents. While porcelain was made with kaolin clay, a unique substance that was only found in China at that time, potters in Iraq, in particular master potters from Basra, had to improvise: They imitated the white colour of porcelains by inventing an opaque white glaze to cover the yellowish buff earthenware body. For embellishment, some of these objects had cobalt blue inscriptions or designs incorporated.

This bowl is an exceptional fine example of the new Basra blue-on-white style ceramics. It replicates the shape of the expensive imported Chinese wares, while the use of cobalt blue oxide was most probably a local Iraqi innovation. It bears a kufic inscription in cobalt blue that reads ما عمل صلح ("what was done was worthwhile"). Asymmetrically and prominently placed, most inscriptions either refer to good fortune or provide the name of the ceramist.

Blue-on-white wares became very popular all over the Abbasid realm and were found in great numbers in many archaeological sites across Iraq, such as Hira, Kish or Samarra. They were also discovered in the Gulf region, particularly at the Abbasid site of Murwab in Qatar.

Simone Struth, Curator for Central Islamic Lands, MIA

See It In Person

The blue-on-white bowl is on view in Gallery 6 at the Museum of Islamic Art. Plan your visit today to see it in person, where it shares space with other treasures from significant caliphates in Islamic history: the Umayyads, the Abbasids and the Fatimids.