Material · Ceramic body

Stonepaste (frit)

خمیر سنگ

A white ceramic body made of ground quartz, glass frit and a little clay, used for fine glazed wares.

Origin

Developed in medieval Iran and neighbouring lands.

Properties

  • White
  • Hard but brittle
  • Takes bright glazes

Preparation

Mix quartz, frit and clay, shape and fire.

Care & preservation

Old frit wares may be fragile; handle with two hands.

General guidance only. For valuable or fragile pieces, consult a qualified conservator before cleaning or treatment.

Used in these crafts

Mina'i ware

A historic overglaze-enamelled stonepaste ware produced mainly in Iran during the twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, decorated with figural and courtly scenes painted in multiple colours applied after glazing and fixed by a low second firing.

Lustreware (Zarrin-fam)

A ceramic decoration in which metallic oxides are painted onto a glazed surface and fired in a reducing kiln to produce a metallic sheen, associated especially with Kashan.

Blue-and-white ceramics

Stonepaste wares painted in cobalt blue under a clear glaze, produced in Iran with strong dialogue with Chinese porcelain, especially in the Timurid and Safavid periods.