The Golden Age of the Abbasid Caliphate 

I really had no idea where to begin with discovering non-Western art. It was an overwhelming prospect to decide not only what country to find art in but also the time period! It dawned on me as I was talking to my daughter about our Sunday school lessons and discussing where the bible passage took place that it dawned on me. I have never read about art from the Middle East. So began my search. I stumbled upon the Abbasid Caliphate dynasty and found it compelling that, at one time, they were a center of cultural arts and philosophies, maths and sciences. I was intrigued and dove into the 9th Century to discover more. I was pleasantly surprised at what I discovered.

In the middle of the 8th century, a significant revolution took place in the Middle East. A prominent family, descendants of the Prophet Mohammed, overthrew the Umayyad Dynasty, leading to the rise of the Abbasid Caliphate as the new ruling power. The Abbasids became one of the longest-lasting dynasties in history. One of their key policies during this extensive reign was their openness to different philosophies and cultures.

They established the House of Wisdom, where open debate among individuals of various religions was encouraged in the two major cities, Baghdad and Samarra. The Abbasids improved infrastructure by building roads to welcome visitors and traders, thereby fostering cultural exchange and exploration of knowledge. 

During this period, they adopted paper-making techniques from the East, resulting in a substantial supply of paper. This innovation allowed for the creation of a wide range of texts, including the compilation of the Quran into a single volume, as well as books on medicine, science, and mathematics. This era marked a golden age of cultural exploration, characterized by advancements in architecture, textiles, and the arts. If you want to dive deeper into this fascinating era, I suggest watching this video for a more exciting in-depth look.

Millefiori Glass 

 

Tile fragments, 9th century, Abbasid caliphate, Millefiori glass, excavated in Samarra, Iraq (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

These small fragments of glass caught my eye immediately. The vibrant colors and intricate patterns are so intricate and reminded me of the clay polymer clay beads my daughter and I sometimes make.  I was surprised to learn that this style of glass art is in fact that very process! I was surprised to learn that this style of glass art uses a similar process! 

Different types of glass fragments were excavated from the rubble of ancient structures in Samarra, Iraq. While they may seem small and perhaps insignificant, they represent the grandeur and beauty of the architecture during the reign of the Abbasid Caliphate.  

Millefiori glass, which means "a thousand flowers," is created by fusing colorful glass rods together to form tiny, detailed flowers and shapes. This glass-fusing technique was used for windows and adorned the walls and ceilings of these structures. By discovering these exquisite glass fragments alongside ancient writings from the same period, researchers have concluded that these beautifully designed pieces were used as mosaics and decorations for their impressive buildings.

Although this process had already been around for centuries, its influence is significant. During the Abbasid Caliphate, many scholars, philosophers, and artists gathered in Samarra and Baghdad, bringing with them new ideas about art, beauty, and innovative ways of thinking from around the world. These exquisite pieces of glass reflect a golden age of creativity and artistic expression. Just imagine looking up at a splendid palace adorned with thousands of intricate geometric designs and floral patterns.

“A Dome of Power! As if stars bend close to it, sharing their secrets

Embassies fall to the ground before it when it overwhelms their sense of sight

When it sparkles, their eyes can make the roots of their eyelashes in it

And if its fire is kindled in Iraq, its gleam would illuminate Arabia”

            -Ali Ibn Jahm, who is famous for his descriptions of Samarran buildings.

Architecture

Great Mosque of Samarra, 9th century, Iraq (photo: Taisir Mahdi, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Samarra was a city celebrated for its grandeur and served as a center of art, culture, and politics. The architecture stood out as well. One place we would see those beautiful glass pieces above would be in this mosque, decorating the walls. It is now in ruins, but archeologists have determined that the walls were adorned with mosaics made of dark blue glass, featuring intricate geometric and floral patterns. It was here in 848 that The Great Mosque of Samarra was commissioned by Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil and completed in 851. At the time, it was one of the largest mosques in the world. The Mosque must have been a remarkable sight to behold and represented the power and prestige of the Abbasid Caliphate reign. 

One of the most fascinating features of the Mosque, The tall minaret, is one of a kind. While most Minarets are tall, straight, and slender, this was built with a spiral staircase ascending up towards the top, where the Muezzin would call out prayer 5 times a day. The Minaret was once connected to the Mosque by a bridge, but the bridge has since collapsed. The architect, Dhel al-Yacoubi, was innovative in his design, skillfully blending art and function. Constructed from sun-baked bricks, The spiral shape advances upward 399 steps through five tiers, much like the Mesopotamian Ziggurats. In fact, it is believed that is where he drew some of his inspiration. This Minaret seems to take on a symbol of humanity's aspiration to reach towards the heavens.

Ceramics 

 Three-Color Luster Bowl with a Checkerboard Pattern 9th century

Made in Iraq, probably Basra Earthenware;
polychrome luster-painted on opaque white glaze Dimensions: H. 2 3/8 in. (6 cm)
Diam. 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm) Classification: Ceramics Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1952
Accession Number: 52.114

Another innovative development was the technique of luster painting over white glaze. This method creates a shiny effect that gives the colors a metallic appearance. In this particular bowl, you can observe three distinct tones: copper red, yellow gold, and olive green. 

While this bowl may seem insignificant, it’s quite unique in that it was created during a time when such intricate designs were new and unique. These vegetal and geometric patterns gained popularity in the surrounding regions and were eventually adopted in Spain and Europe, along with the luster painting technique.

What stands out to me are the patterns on the bowl. The surface features a checkered design, which is enhanced by additional shapes within the pattern. We can see herringbone motifs, various eye-like shapes or circles, and squares adorned with smaller patterned circles, reminiscent of millefiori glass.  

To me, this bowl encompasses all that was going on during the golden age of the Abbasid Caliphate dynasty.  The power, the prestige, the collective growth of knowledge in philosophies, science, math, and arts. All focused in the center of Iraq, holding all this beauty inside and expanding outward to the rest of the world.  

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about this time period and the innovations that were created at this time.  I had no idea about this history, let alone the interesting textiles, architecture and art that was created during this time period.  It truly was a golden age of art and innovations. 

works cited 

 Dr. Beatrice Leal, "Arts of the Abbasid Caliphate," in Smarthistory, https://smarthistory.org/arts-abbasid-caliphate/ December 19, 2021, accessed December 1, 2024,

Saba, Matt. “Fragmentary but Fascinating: Architectural Glass from Samarra.” https://www.metmuseum.org, 20 October 2015,https://www.metmuseum.org/perspectives/architectural-glass-from-samarra. Accessed 1 December 2024.

Dr. Matt Saba, "Samarra, a palatial city," in Smarthistory,https://smarthistory.org/samarra/ May 4, 2022, accessed December 1, 2024.

Nikolic, Dusan. “The Art & Architecture of the Abbasid Caliphate.” TheCollector, 17 December 2022, https://www.thecollector.com/art-of-abbasid-caliphate//. Accessed 2 December 2024.

Nu-Iraq. “The Majestic Maliya Minaret of Samarra: a Spiraling Symbol of Islamic Heritage.” Visit Iraq, 28 September 2024,https://visitiraqnow.com/articles/66f83463ef8f54ae669593a2 Accessed 1 December 2024.

Kenney, Ellen. “three Color Luster Bowl with a Checkerboard Pattern.” The Met Museum, 2011, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/451117. Accessed 2 December 2024