Pottery of Morocco

The 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.
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.