Abū Zayd ibn Muḥammad ibn Abī Zayd (
fl.
c. 1186–1219), commonly referred to as Abu Zayd or Abu Zayd al-Kashani ('Abu Zayd from
Kashan'), was a Medieval Persian potter, who was most active between the late 12th and early 13th century. He came from
Kashan, which was a city in the northern part of Isfahan in Iran, first under the
Seljuq Empire, then from 1194 under the
Khwarizmian Empire. As such, his works represented the
Turco-Persian culture of the time. As a very aggressive potter, who was highly skilled, he was able to work on 15 or more masterpieces,[1] and his collection is larger than that of any other medieval Iranian potter.[2] The collection includes both luxury items and artifacts at the time, and other artistic items:
lustreware and
mina'i ware. He also wrote poetry, some of which was inscribed on his pottery.[3]
Signed and dated works
The earliest
Mina'i bowl dated and signed by Abu Zayd al-Kashani, in 1187, in the last years of the
Seljuk Empire, Iran.[4]
Polychrome bowl with a
Majlis scene by a pond, signed by Abu Zayd al-Kashani. Dated 1187.[5]
Lustreware great basin signed by Abu Zayd al-Kashani in 1191, Kashan, Iran.[6]
Bowl with Seated Figures by a Pond, Iran 1211-12, by Abu Zaid, Ashmolean Museum.[7]
"A Brief Biography of Abu Zayd" by Sheila Blair, Frontiers of Islamic Art and Architecture: Essays in Celebration of Oleg Grabar's Eightieth Birthday, Volume 25 of Muqarnas : an annual on Islamic art and architecture, 2008, BRILL, eds. Gülru Neci̇poğlu, Julia Bailey,
ISBN9004173277, 9789004173279
Canby, Sheila, pp. 114–115, in Freestone, Ian,
Gaimster, David R. M. (eds), Pottery in the Making: World Ceramic Traditions, 1997, British Museum Publications,
ISBN071411782X