Page 305 - Life & Land Use on the Bahrain Islands (Curtis E Larsen)

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Chinese-Influenced Ceramic Forms

Islamic imitations of Chinese pottery are not a new phenomenon. They were quite
common in the Early Islamic world, where splashed-glazes on buff ware copied
Tang dynasty decorations (Lane 1947, Allan 1971). Here, such bowl forms are more
recognizable. Bowls 65d-g are clearly related by form to Sung celadon bowl 65a
even though there has been no attempt to imitate the glaze. While rim forms are
similar, each bowl is formed from a buff paste. Recognizable glazes or designs are
shown by bowls 65e and 65g, where both have black linear designs painted on a
white slip or underglaze. TTiis rim has a limited range as it is present only in levels
D through F. A new celadon rim appears in Level C (fig. 66e) apparently
synchronous with the appearance of other new ceramic forms (see fig. 55). Aga
Oglu (1972) illustrates similar rim forms on Late Sung dynasty celadon bowls.

Fine Ware
Two fine-buff ware vessels are found at the base of the medieval sequence. These
are distinctively incised jars with inwardly bevelled rims (figs. 65k-l). The other
known occurrence of this rim is from a surface collection at the Danish site 492,
where it is found with sgraffiato, and black on green glazed ware. Also, present

Figure 66: Medieval Islamic Plain and Decorated Wares
a. 518.BF, Profile, Level C; green glaze on buff ware.
b. 518.H, Pit 1, Level HI.; weathered glaze on straw-tempered buff ware.
c. 518.BF, Profile, Level C; ware not noted.
d. 518.BF, Profile, Level C; coarse sand-tempered, light brown ware.
e. 518.BF, Profile, Level C; gray-green celadon glaze on light gray porcelain.
f. 518.H, Pit 1, Level III.; buff ware.
518.H, Pit I, Level DK; fine buff ware.
h. 518.BF, Profile, Lever C; fine cream ware.
i. 518.BF, Profile, Level C; fine cream ware.
j- 518.BF, Profile, Level C; fine cream ware.
k. 518.H, Pit 1, Level III.; red-brown interior slip, ware not noted.
1. 518.BF, Profile, Lever C; buff slip on sand-tempered red ware.