TSR Unglazed Wares of the Early Islamic Period

Tareq Rajab Museum

Kuwait

Unglazed wares of the early Islamic period

Unglazed wares pottery of the early Islamic period constitutes the largest group in the Museum's collection, numbering 475 items. Most of them date from the early Islamic period, although there are a few which are definitely pre-Islamic. Their date ranges from the 7th or 8th centuries up to the 14th century. They may be divided into the following groups:

Jugs

Jars

Sphero-conical vessels

a/ jugs. Their shape and sizes vary, just as their provenance and date. A small jug comes very close to excavated Umayyad examples in Jordan, and accordingly, it may be considered as of the late 7th or early 8th century (CER1204TSR). The second has an entirely different shape and decoration and comes very close to Samanid examples and may be dated to the period between late 9th to early 11th century (CER1361TSR). The next one again betrays close relationship to excavated Samanid pieces at Nishapur ( CER1262TSR). Another jug has extensive applique, combed and incised decoration and may date from the period between the 12th and 14th centuries (CER1370TSR).

b/ ewers and bottles. The first example was made of a greyish-green earthenware and has carved and stamped decoration (CER1790TSR). It bears all the hallmarks of Fatimid pottery, particularly North African polychrome-painted vessels of the 11th century. The second bottle may also be Fatimid, but probably from Egypt (CER1791TSR). The black painted ewer which also has applique decoration and free moving rings, may be attributed either to Iran or to Central Asia (CER1325TSR). The "beak-spouted" ewer with bird's head may have also originated in the same eegion as the previous one (CER1328TSR). Another black painted ewer has an unusual neck and spout and its top presents a grotesque human face. It is most likely again central Asian (CER1350TSR). The ewer with a high upward pointing spout which inside has the painting of a serpent and a fish suggests a possible magical function for this vessel (CER1211TSR).

c/ a container. This somewhat small and black painted vessel reveals relationship to excavated Mamluk pottery in Syria and accordingly, may be dated to the 13th - 14th century(CER1208TSR).

d/ jars. There are several spherical bodied jars in the collection an some of these are decorated with applique and moulded designs, like the red earthenware vessel which shares the same characteristics like the so-called Sasano-Islamic glazed jars and therefore it could be late Sasanian or early Islamic (CER1377TSR).