The lustred tiles are of an older date than the Persian fayence fine ware, or imitated Chinese porcelain. The body composition of the tiles resembles that of the old bricks that are found in great quantities in the ruinous mounds of Rhages (Rhé), where also many fragments of tiles have been found, and some remains of potters’ kilns, proving that Rhages must have been the centre of extensive pottery works. Another class of Persian ware has a thin, hard, and nearly translucent paste, which is decorated by having pierced holes filled in with transparent glaze. It is creamy white in colour, and has foliated ornament in blue or brown. This has been called Gombion Ware.
One variety of decoration on a late seventeenth-century Persian bowl is shown at Fig. 41. This is a good example of the late floral ornament.
Fig. 41.—Blue Persian Bowl; Seventeenth Century. (S.K.M.)
Damascus ware has generally been classified as Persian, but in many points it is different from the latter. It is better in colour and design. Some examples have a smooth even glaze, and are coloured with a fine quality of cobalt blue, turquoise green, and a dull lilac or purple intermixed with white portions of the design evenly distributed. The ornament is less florid and the fayence is of an older date than the majority of Persian examples. The “Damas” cups or vases have always been highly prized for their beauty, and the wall tiles from Damascus are the most beautiful of all Oriental tiles.
Fig. 42.—Rhodian Ware.
Rhodian or Lindus tiles and pottery have been also classified as Persian, but again this ware is quite distinct from Persian or Damascus wares. Rhodian pottery is coarser than the two former varieties, and the decoration is brighter and more strongly marked. The ornament is of a very conventional character, and in colour it is characterised by having a red opaque pigment used in spots and patches, and sometimes in bands, but always raised or embossed.
The plates shown in Figs. 42 and 43 are examples of Rhodian ware.
