traditional lustre reduction technique

Spain
14th Century
Source: Basodan, Z. (2024). Recuperating the Nasrid Palace and the Alhambra Vases in Emerging Islamic Studio Ceramics. [Thesis].
Recipe Details

Ingredients

lustre

Preparation Steps

Traditional Islamic lustre is an innovation begun in 9th-century Iraq. It involves a specific ceramic process that produces a gold-like sheen on glazed objects. The objects are fired under a reduction atmosphere (Glossary, p. xxx). The thesis focuses on the traditional lustre reduction technique used for Alhambra vases (p. 5).

Original Recipe Text

Traditional Islamic lustre is an innovation begun in 9th-century Iraq. It involves a specific ceramic process that produces a gold-like sheen on glazed objects. The objects are fired under a reduction atmosphere (Glossary, p. xxx). The thesis focuses on the traditional lustre reduction technique used for Alhambra vases (p. 5).

Evidence

"Figure 119. (Left) Neck fragment of an 'Alhambra vase', tin-glazed earthenware with lustre decoration, probably Málaga, 1250–1350, and Foot of bowl, Malaga signed in Arabic on the foot, lustreware, V&A Museum"

Remarks

The Nasrid period is known for lavish multi-cultural and artistic styles, including geometric ceramic tiles and traditional lustre (p. 1). The lustre technique differs from modern ready-made lustre which is typically made of real gold (p. xxx). The vases discussed are among the largest Islamic ceramic objects made during the Islamic dynasties (p. 1).

Scientific Analysis
Analytical Techniques
visual research and analysis approach
Certainty Level
Inferred
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
pigment
Paper Typetin-glazed earthenware
ColorGold
RegionSpain
Approx. Year1350
Source Information
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