Iranian Glazed Ceramics of the 12th—Beginning of the 13th Centuries in the Volga Bulgaria

Svetlana Valiulina

doi:10.3390/heritage4040204

Abstract

This article is devoted to the analysis of Iranian art ceramics from the monuments of the Volga Bulgaria of the 12th to early 13th centuries. As a historical source, glazed ceramics have great opportunities in determining the directions of trade and cultural links, as well as priorities of intercultural interaction. It is especially important that the materials under consideration were obtained as a result of excavations, which means that they are stratified and provided with an archaeological context. Iranian ceramics are represented by fritware luster, mina’i, and pierced decoration. The study was carried out using morphological and stylistic methods and scanning electron microscopy method (SEM-EDS). Based on the results of the work, the technological characteristics of glazed ceramics, the stability of the craft tradition, and some changes in recipes within the same morphological group have been determined. The dynamics and chronology of the import flow from Iran to the Middle Volga are established, which revealed correspondence to the main stages of urban culture development of the Volga Bulgaria.

Highlights

In the Middle Ages, the mainly eastern direction of the Middle Volga Region contacts was the mainly the result of geographical location and cultural and historical factors (Figure 1)
Artistic ceramics and glass of the East show the trade directions and cultural links of the Volga Bulgaria, and let us trace the dynamics of the state and culture development via analysis of imported materials, and define and differentiate the main stages of this process
The ratio of alkali oxides Na2O/K2O is from 1.56 (Table 1: h) to 7.17 (Table 1: b). These indicators are consistent with the results of the analysis of the ashes from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan, in which the Na2O/K2O ratios vary between 1.2 and 9.2 [17] (p. 1289), that is, they demonstrate a wide variability of values, but at the same time they are consistent with the ratios of Iranian glazes [18]

Summary

Introduction

In the Middle Ages, the mainly eastern direction of the Middle Volga Region contacts was the mainly the result of geographical location and cultural and historical factors (Figure 1). The most numerous evidence of trade contacts of the Middle Volga with the Middle East in the 9th–10th centuries were Arab dirhams and glass beads, which were another international currency in the unfair fur trade of the Middle Ages [1,2]. Another level of international connection is evident from appearance of new type of Middle-Eastern glass products in 10th century Bolgar and Suvar, which were previously unknown in eastern Europe. It is important to point out that there was no corresponding ceramic ware trade in Middle Volga region at that time

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion