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Islamic Art
Movement of Ideas: Blue-and-White
The Chinese and Persian origins of blue-and-white porcelain
The industry of blue-and-white pottery is a delicate entwining of the import-export of raw materials with ideas and tastes. It would not have developed in either China or Iran alone. The earliest examples of blue-and-white ware have been found in Iran and are dated to the thirteenth century. However, the cobalt blue had a tendency to run and the Persians found it difficult to use for fine details, limiting its use. Raw cobalt was brought to China by the Mongols, and the Chinese potters were able to develop a way in which to use the cobalt without its running.
Within China, cobalt was called ‘wu ming yu’ (nameless rarity) and ‘hui hui qing’ (Muhammadan blue), indicating not only its origin but also its value as a colour. Large-scale production of blue-and-white ware within China began in 1328 and became well-established in the major porcelain centre of Jingdezhen in Jiangsu Province. The first dated blue-and-white porcelain are the David Vases, present in the British Museum, which were made in 1351 in Jingdezhen in the Yuan dynasty for a Daoist temple 120km southeast of the ceramics centre.
Blue-and-white wares, however, were considered vulgar and gaudy to Chinese patrons who often preferred…
