Ceramics traditionally consist of materials that are shaped and hardened by heating to high temperatures. Kilns were the method through which a more sophisticated potter would create their ceramics. The process of firing a piece would be putting the formed ceramic in the kiln and burning things within the kiln. The kiln would have to be structurally sound, fire-resistant, and withstand high temperatures. 

Before the firing process, a slip or a decorative paint-like bonding substance would be added to the ceramic. When fired, the slip would appear as a paint-like finish on the clay, but would be more durable due to its adhesive qualities. The white slip on the “Fragmentary Ceramic Bowl…” would have been applied to the bowl and left to dry before adding the other colorful elements of the piece. 

The lusterware on the ceramic bowl also has an interesting history. Lusterware arises from the iridescent effect that the ceramic is graced with upon firing. Traditionally, copper and silver oxides were added to a glaze, whereupon firing the metals are oxidized to create an ultra-thin iridescent layer of pure metal. This layer is very fragile and can be easily damaged. Because of its fragile nature, any ceramic containing lusterware would be designed for decorative purposes and not intended for constant use through physical handling. 

Historically, the technology for producing lusterware originates from the 8th Century during the Abbasid Caliphate in Iraq. Most lusterware manufacturing was centered in Baghdad, but Egypt became a center of production and commerce of lusterware ceramics. Following the fall of the Fatimid Dynasty, Persian ceramics faced a revolution through the communication of the “Silk Road.” Traditional Chinese porcelain glazing techniques were shared across this route, and the Persians adopted their method soon after. Lusterware in later centuries was often accompanied by complex geometric patterns in cobalt or green colors. This can be seen in the “Fragmentary Ceramic Bowl,” as pictured.