Iran; Origin of So-Called Kūbācheh Pottery

The Iranian origin of some pottery was confirmed by discovery of various types known as Kūbācheh, including black, green and colorful pens found in archeological excavations of the different Iranian regions such as Khorasan, Rab’-e Rashidi in Tabriz, Ardebil, Emāmzādeh Benis near Shabestar, the historical city of Gaskar (Haft Daghnān) near Some’eh-Sarā, Tamisheh in Golestān Province, Alamut Castle, Nargeh Hill in Tākestān, and Shurpaz-khāneh Hill in Khānlaq village in the suburbs of Shahr-e Rey near Tehran. Findings of the petrography of certain samples further indicate the above fact and identify the production centers for this type of pottery to be the cities of Neyshābur, Mashad, Tabriz and Isfahān. Based on the samples which carry dates and figures, Kūbācheh is known to have been produced in Iran since the second half of the ninth century AH in the two forms of black and green pens which continued up to the 12th century AH in its colorful forms. Whereas production of this type of pottery has decreased considerably since then, it has not been abolished completely and has survived up to the present time in some limited regions including Mend in Gonābād.