Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient

A Study on the Apparent Origins of the Designs on Nishapur’s Buffware Pottery from the 9th and 10th Centuries AD

https://doi.org/10.22034/jaco.2024.453300.1404
Volume 12, Issue 46
Winter 2025
Pages 54-63
Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Hadis Mirzaee Fashami

M.A. in The Collection of Art Research and Handicrafts, History of Art in the Eslamic Countries College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran.

Abstract
Nishapur's buffware potteries are the center of attention for their unique designs. These potteries were neither known before the 9th century AD nor did their production continue after the 10th century AD. None of the theories proposed about this pottery mentioned any sufficient and credible evidence. Apart from exploring the apparent origins of the pottery designs and examining a proper number of artifacts, this study attempts to provide reasoned evidence regarding the sources of inspiration and the visual similarities of these designs. In fact, the research questions are: What is the apparent origin of these designs? What are the roots of the form of the clothes, shoes, fabrics used, composition methods, scattered plant elements in the background and figures' hands, white circular spots on the hair, and the decoration of horses, and what are they influenced by? This investigation does not address the content-related issues of the designs but focuses solely on their formal origins.
This period witnessed the formal influence of the Sogdia region, Central Asia, and the art of the Sassanid era. It seems that the peace and security during the reign of the Samanid emperors, the existence of the Silk Road extending from China to the Mediterranean shores that caused trading to thrive, led to the significant contribution of the Sogdia region on influencing the drawing style on these pottery designs.
This study used a qualitative and strategic goal-oriented structure and it is of the fundamental research type. Regarding the research methodology, this research is of a historical kind. The data were analyzed and discussed with a descriptive-analytical approach.

Keywords

Buffware Pottery
Nishapur
Charles Wilkinson
Central Asia
Sassanid
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