Cleveland Museum of Art

Dish with Falcon Attacking a Water Bird

Date

1100s

Medium

Fritware with carved decoration and underglaze design, Lakabi ware

Culture

Syria, possibly Tell Minis, Zangid (1127–1251) or Ayyubid period (1171–1260)

Department

Islamic Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The development of fritware in the Islamic world revolutionized ceramic production and was likely influenced by the import of Chinese porcelain. Fritware was largely made of quartz with small amounts of crushed glass and fine clay in order to produce a white body. The carved surface with raised outlines allowed glazes of different colors to be side by side without running together when fired. Sanctioned by the Qur'an (5:4-6), falconry was for many centuries a favorite sport of Muslim rulers.

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