Collector guide · 9 min
Slip-painted ware of Nishapur and Samarkand
Editorial team · updated 2026-10-03
Look and technique
Potters coated earthenware with white slip, painted designs in coloured slips (often dark brown-black and red), then covered it with a clear lead glaze. The slip stops colours running.
Inscriptions
Many bowls carry Kufic proverbs about generosity, knowledge or blessing around the rim.
Collecting caution
Forgeries and heavily restored pieces are common. Provenance documentation and lab testing matter. For most buyers, museum study and catalogues are the best way to enjoy this ware.
A note on this guide
This is a general introduction written by the CraftPersia editorial team and has not yet been reviewed by a specialist. Workshop practice varies between towns and families; treat dates and figures as approximate and confirm details with makers, museums or published scholarship before relying on them.