Bottle with Scene of a Camel Caravan

One of the most brilliant inventions of scientists at the Abbasid court in Baghdad, lustreware would transform the history of world ceramics. The technique, which is still used today, involves painting the surface of a clay vessel or tile with a mixture of clay slip, metallic oxides, and vinegar. When the clay is fired in a reducing atmosphere—one that chokes off oxygen during the firing process—the oxygen molecules burn off, producing a lustrous gold or copper-toned design. This visual alchemy, transforming clay into gold, was treasured in Islamic societies, where the use of precious metals for tableware was discouraged. The technique spread to Spain, Italy, and elsewhere in the West, where it is often known as Majolica.