Pottery of Morocco

 

 The rich pottery tradition of Moroccan Pottery

 

 

Moroccan bowl with arabesque motif

Large Moroccan antique polychrome decorated bowl with arabesque motif.

Morocco Kingdom

City of Morocco

 

Moroccan geometric patterned pottery vesselThe Kingdom of Morocco is renown for its pottery, covered with complex geometric, arabesque and beautiful, rich patterns. Moroccan art has been influenced by a diversity of cultures due to being occupied by Romans,Vandals, Visigoths, Byzantine Greeks ( 278AD to 429AD ) and the conquering Arabs who introduced their Islamic civilization in the late 7th century. The indigenous Berber tribes were generally converted to Islam around this time.The intricate hand-painted ceramics of Morocco usually reveal designs that have been influenced by Islamic culture. Some tribes in Morocco have been painting the same design for over 200 years.

Their pottery tended to be hand painted with fine details, deep colors, and a variety of hand spun designs. The Muslim Arab invasion and settlement of Morocco and Spain in the 7th–9th century led to an upheaval in the ceramic production of utilitarian & decorative vessels and architectural features. Over 8,000 artisans from Andalusia in Spain were brought into Fez and spread their techniques and styles of Islamic designs using tin oxide, lead fritted, opaque low fire glazes. The infusion of Islamic thought into every aspect of daily life became a prominent influence, where even common utilitarian vessels became the carrier of either a pattern that could be related back to the Infinity of God, or to the Word of God. Islamic patterns based on Muslim principles of a balance between the male (geometric or containing design) and female principle (arabesque, vegetal or foliage decoration) were used. The other common style of Moroccan pottery was of Berber orientation which featured hand built, clay slip decorated tribal pottery, characteristically using signs and symbols to repel evil spirits and insure protection for the owner and potter. The Berbers considerd their work more “masculine” than the other more decorative, colorful and “feminine” urban Moroccan pottery.

As the “wild west” of the Islamic world, Morocco quickly became a haven for many dissidents, rebels and refugees from the eastern caliphate. Among these was Idris ibn Abdallah, who with the help of the local Awraba Berbers, founded the Idrisid Dynasty in 788. His son Idris II erected a splendid new capital at Fez and launched Morocco as a centre of learning and a major power. The Imperial city of Fez is one of the kingdom’s most beautiful places. It offers uniquely designed and colored Moroccan ceramics with an Islamic influence viewed in the intricate pattern, colors, design and production. For over six centuries Fez has proudly created the finest Moroccan pottery. Its beauty comes from the complex knowledge of geometry passed on from father to son. Fez is renowned for the choice of cobalt oxide that permits to obtain every shade of blue. Polychrome enameled ware is more respected in Morocco.

In 1660, Morocco came under the control of the Alawite dynasty. It is a sherif dynasty—descended from the prophet Muhammad—and rules Morocco to this day. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Morocco was one of the Barbary States, the headquarters of pirates who pillaged Mediterranean traders. Morocco was colonized by both the French and the Spanish.

The floral and geometric Moroccan designs are available in cobalt blue and multicolour. This  highly decorative ceramic style was greatly influenced by the Moorish and Spanish culture. The main centers for ceramics are Safi, which produces pottery inlaid with metal , and Fez, which produces the very distinctive blue and white fassi pottery.

Antique Moroccan Pot

Antique Moroccan covered soup tureen.

Moroccan arabic caligraphy vase with white characters on olive green

Moroccan Arabic Calligraphy Vase

Blue and white Fez tagine Morocco

Fez Tagine

Safi, lidded jar

Safi lidded Jar

Moroccan Ceramic Artist painting a large charger

Moroccan Ceramic Artist, Tamegroute

Moroccan Lidded Pottery Jars

Moroccan pottery jars

Ceramic Safi Plate with brass inlays

Safi Antique Plate

Blue and white Ceramic Basin from Fez

Fez Ceramic Basin

Monumental amphora vases

Two gigantic amphoras as emblems of the city of Safi, Morocco ( L.Mahin )

Alhambra Vase from Marrakesh - Morocco

Alhambra Vase from Marrakesh painted with Moorish motifs

Moroccan vase in pink and orange

Vase Morocco

Moroccan Plate with geometric patterns

Moroccan Safi Plate

Marrakech Pottery bazzar

Marrakech Pottery Shop

Moroccan Charger in blue and white

Moroccan charger

Large Moroccan Platter with Islamic motif

Moroccan Platter

Safi Moroccan Vase with a mustard glaze and engraved metal detailing

Moroccan Safi Vase – mustard glaze with engraved metal detail

Lidded Moroccan vessel

Moroccan lidded vessel

moroccan dish - geometric patterns

Moroccan bowl

Safi Moroccan tea Set deep pink glaze with silver engraved metalwork

Moroccan tea set

( Mosak Store )

Mosquée de Tinmel. Maroc arched corridor

Mosquée de Tinmel. Maroc
by courregesg
Moroccan plate display
Plates at one of Morocco’s renowned bazaars
Painted Camel
Camel Art
by osaprio
Moroccan olive jarLarge Exotic Pottery Olive Jar
Antique Spice Jar and Pitcher - Morocco

Moroccan Antique Spice Jar and Pitcher

Orange glaze ceramic plate with metalwork detail

Antique handmade Safi ceramic plate with engraved silver detailing

( Casbah Decor )

Morocco Pottery Bazzar

Moroccan Pottery Shop

( Peregrin@ Flickr )

Antique Moroccan baluster Vase

Antique Moroccan vase

Marrakesh Moroccan Vase with engraved metal motifs

Marrakesh Moroccan Vase

( Berber Trading )

Lidded Jar Morocco with silver inlays

Moroccan Lidded Jar

A traditional Ginger Jar from Fez. Hardened in the sun, then fired three times in the process of creating a piece with depth, colour and shine. The final application of a silver alloy traces the designs on the vase, a time-consuming process that requires a great eye for detail and skill. This vase took over a month to make by hand.

Ceramic Engraved Chili-Vase-(Morocco)

Chili Vase Engraved–(Morocco)

La-Mamounia-21-inch-Engraved-Ceramic-jar-Morocco

21-inch-Engraved ceramic jar Morocco

Moroccan-Pottery-Jar,-19th-Century-Aspire-Auctions

Moroccan ewer

 

 

Moroccan-Style-Decorative-Wall-Hanging-Pottery with metal filigree overlay

Moroccan dish with filigree decoration

 

 

 

Antique-Moroccan-Persian-Faience-Majolica-Pottery-Blue-&-White-Bottle-Vase

Bottle/vase Morocco

 

 

 

Moroccan-hebrew-vase lidded with twin handles

Hebrew vessel, Morocco

 

 

 

Old-moroccan-berber-pottery-vase-North-African-antique-vase

Moroccan Berber pottery

 

 

 

Safi-vase green with black detail arabesque style

Safi  vase – Morocco

 

 

 

Matching set of tagine, plate and bowl in red glaze and metal detailing from Morocco - Medina Interior

Moroccan matching tagine, plate and bowl in crimson red glaze

medinainterior.com.au

 

 

Late-19th-Early-20th-Islamic-Moroccan-Safi-Glazed-Pottery-Vase

Late 19th Early 20th Islamic Moroccan Safi Glazed Pottery Vase with twin handles

 

 

 

Moroccan-chicken-tagine black and white geometrical patterns, red base

Moroccan tagine, black and white glaze

 

 

 

Moroccan ornate wall fountain

Islamic style water fountain – Morocco

 

 

 

Moroccan-Vase,-circa-1926

Antique geometric vase

Morocco 1926

source quoted – Nano Nore

 


 
 
 
 

 

10 Comments

  1. joy
    Posted April 30, 2013 at 10:13 am | Permalink

    i have a safi pot, hand painted safi on bottom with aribic word, i am unable to find any information on it. my great grandfather brought back from world war one. any suggestions on where to go for reserch greatly appreciated. thank you

  2. Anonymous
    Posted September 24, 2013 at 10:32 am | Permalink

    i did not find the artist name can some body help me and give me a moroccan artist name please

  3. kiara redshaw
    Posted March 26, 2015 at 5:53 pm | Permalink

    what are the artists names? 🙂

  4. ben
    Posted June 29, 2017 at 2:00 pm | Permalink

    yes nice art work and photos

  5. Benjamin Kamala
    Posted July 20, 2017 at 2:26 pm | Permalink

    Very nice art from Morocco and attractive perfect handwork.

  6. Maree Sinclair
    Posted April 17, 2018 at 5:22 pm | Permalink

    Where has this website been all my life? xxx

  7. Posted June 13, 2018 at 3:15 am | Permalink

    Most of this artwork is unique! they are amazing, i’m from Morocco and i can tell you that there is lot of artisans create such a beautiful art of Moroccan pottery especially in Safi , Sale , Fez & many small villages

  8. Derek
    Posted June 15, 2019 at 9:07 am | Permalink

    Hi I recently found a Safi pot vase measures 14inches high. I would like to know how to tell the age of such a piece. Thanks

  9. Posted December 10, 2021 at 10:11 am | Permalink

    Moroccan pottery has a richness to its color and texture that cannot be found in other types of pottery. Many people believe that Moroccan pottery is one of the most beautiful ceramic products on the market.

  10. Colonel Hassan Fadli
    Posted January 9, 2024 at 5:27 pm | Permalink

    Hi ,I am collectiorbof moroccan potterey,may be I can help,just send in my what up photo of signature.Hassan +212 661385139

3 Trackbacks

  1. By Behind the Scenes of Moroccan Pottery from Safi | on January 13, 2015 at 11:17 am

    […] you visit VeniceClayArtists.com, you will be amazed by the beauty of their selection of Moroccan pottery. Indeed the Kingdom of […]

  2. By The real best souvenirs to bring home from 19 countries around the world | Bicara Niaga on April 16, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    […] The cities that are the main centers for ceramics are Safi and Fez. […]

  3. By An Emigre Designer on December 2, 2016 at 11:52 am

    […] https://www.veniceclayartists.com/pottery-of-morocco/    Photo of antique moroccan pot accessed 11/29/16 […]

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