Characterizing the earliest black and turquoise wares in 12th Century Persia

Abstract

Black and turquoise wares were widely produced during the Ilkhanid dynasty (1256–1335 CE), Iran. These ceramics are believed to have first emerged in Persia in the 12th Century, prior to Mongol domination of the Iranian Plateau. Compared with the more common black and turquoise wares of the Ilkhanid period, the earlier ones are rare. This study investigates the technological evolution of these ceramics from the early 12th Century to the Ilkhanid period. Two pieces from the earlier era and ten from the latter, excavated at the Jahan-Nama site in Isfahan, were analyzed. ED-XRF and SEM-EDS techniques were used for compositional and microstructural analysis. The results show that early 12th Century wares had semi-opaque lead-alkaline turquoise glazes, and black decorations were created using manganese and iron. The quartz-based bodies had carved decorations with black in-glaze designs. By the 13th/14th Century, turquoise glazes became transparent and alkaline, and black decorations were painted with chromium particles using an underglaze technique. In addition, no ceramics with carved quartz-based bodies were found in the 13th/14th Century CE. These changes are linked to sociopolitical transformations on the Iranian Plateau.