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]
• 
  Lustreware plate painted by Abu Zaid al Kashani in December 1210 (AH 607), under the Khwarazmian Empire. Freer Gallery of Art.^[7]

See also

• Abu Taher (family)

References

Further reading

• "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, ISBN 9004173277, 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, ISBN 071411782X

External links

• Iranica article
• Entry for Abu Zayd on the Union List of Artist Names
• Bowl by Abu Zayd in the collection of the British Museum