The complex history of Safavid ceramics is
due in part to the geographical position of
Persia, placed as it was between the Ottoman
Empire, the lands of Uzbek rulers, the Mughal
empire and the Indian Ocean. The Safavid
dynasty ruled over Persia (1501-1722) for over
two centuries, with the first century proving to
be a challenging time on all borders with
intense military disruption on the Ottoman
frontier. The entire 16th century type of
ceramic decoration disappears towards the
end of the rule of Shah ‘Abbas I and pottery
workshops start responding with great gusto
to the arrival of an increasing quantity of Kraak
wares on the Persian market, this resulting in a
dramatic improvement to the quality of the
white stonepaste and its glaze. The most likely
reason for this radical change would be the
appearance on the scene of the Dutch East
India Company, the new international
purveyors in bulk of Chinese export wares.
Whereas the 16th century Iznik production had
in no time abandoned Chinese designs,
Persian potters, in their renewed efforts to
compete with Chinese wares, made good use
of 17th century and earlier Chinese models,
with their usual freehand approach in adapting
original Far Eastern patterns.
- (CB.3157)
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