Abbasid Splash Ware Bowl

This bowl is an example of splash ware, a type of pottery made throughout Iraq, Iran, and western Central Asia. Influenced by the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE) Chinese wares, which were mainly decorated in a combination of green, yellow, and brown glazes, this distinctive style of pottery reflects the widespread trade of Chinese ceramics along the Silk Road. While these Chinese imports were highly valued and prized – as stated in both texts of the period and surviving funerary wares – Islamic potters soon started imitating these wares using a variety of locally sourced materials. Despite its popularity under the Abbasid period, splash ware seems to have fallen out of fashion sometime in the 5th century AH/11th century CE.