tin

Ingredients

tin, glaze

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Abbasid potters added tin to the ceramic glaze. This addition transformed the naturally transparent or semi-transparent glaze into an opaque white background. This was specifically used to mask the natural color of the earthenware clay body and provide a clean surface for further decoration (p. 36).

Evidence

"Another major development occurred in the 10th century, when Abbasid potters added tin to the glaze, which resulted in an opaque white glaze, allowing them to cover the colour of the earthenware clay body and decorate it (Porter, 2005)."

Remarks

This development was part of a global desire to replicate the whiteness effects of Chinese porcelain. It later spread to Islamic Spain and influenced the development of Italian majolica (p. 36, 37).