Preconceptions of the Samarra Horizon, Green Splashed Ware and Blue Painted Ware Revisited through Chinese Ceramic Imports (Eighth to Tenth Centuries)

New archaeological evidence challenges long-held assumptions about the Samarra Horizon, revealing that the visual similarities between Islamic green splashed ware and blue painted ware, as well as Chinese ceramics from the 8th to 10th centuries CE, may stem from multiple influences rather than a single origin. This study re-examines these ceramic traditions by analyzing imports found across Middle Eastern sites, highlighting the complex mutual influence between Islamic and Chinese pottery during the early Abbasid period. The research employs comparative material analysis to unpack preconceptions about stylistic development in this region.

Wen, W. (2021). Preconceptions of the Samarra Horizon, Green Splashed Ware and Blue Painted Ware Revisited through Chinese Ceramic Imports (Eighth to Tenth Centuries). Journal of Material Cultures in the Muslim World, 2(1-2), 150–183. https://doi.org/10.1163/26666286-12340020