The arrival of the Umayyads in Spain served as the catalyst for the emergence of the city of Málaga as a hotbed of lusterware production some five centuries later. This was certainly not an overnight process, as the first evidence of lusterware in Spain appears around the tenth century.However, by the middle of the thirteenth century, this tradition was firmly established and Málaga became known as a domestic and international capital of lusterware. As a center of ceramic production, Málaga would develop its own unique style that would soon become globally renowned and sought after.

The shift of Islamic Lusterware technique to Málagan Lusterware drew viewers in at first glimmer. This technique reflects light and dazzles the eye. To create the lusterware, Málagan potters followed the Islamic technique of triple firing metal oxides. Apart from the technical sphere, Málagan work also drew design influence from its Islamic roots. Artists took on traditional patterns of formal vegetal arabesques (curving interwoven lines), knot and geometric patterns, and script-like motifs, with these elements sometimes serving as a background for figural work.

4. Journey to Valencia

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Bibliography