Enamelled glass is arguably the most celebrated type of glass from the Islamic world. The enamel was made from coloured opaque glass crushed into a powder and applied to the surface of the vessel in an oily medium with a brush or reed pen. In order to fix the colour permanently the glass had to be re-fired. This was an extremely complicated process because the temperature in the wood-fuelled kiln had to be carefully controlled. If it was too high there was risk of the vessel losing its shape. Scholars are still uncertain as to whether the different colours were all applied at the same time or in stages. Gilding was also added to the most luxurious vessels which were only used on special occasions.

The exact date of the invention of enamelled glass is unclear but its production took off in Syria in the twelfth century, especially in the glass workshops at Raqqa. In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries the centre of production shifted to Cairo- the Mamluk capital. It was the painterly surface and variety of colours that really appealed to Mamluk patrons, many of whom had their names incorporated into the vessels’ design. Elaborate mosque lamps were a particular favourite of the royal establishment. For reasons that are not yet clear the trade fell into decline from the late fifteenth century and the lead in glass production shifted to European workshops, especially Venice.