La producción cerámica medieval de Murcia

[EN] This article gives a general overview and chronology for pottery production in medieval Murcia, from the foundation of the city by Abd al-Rahman in 825 AD. Murcia was an active centre of pottery production in the tenth century, as is confirmed by finds of wasters from the Muslim potter of San Nicolas whose products reveal a wide repertoire of forms, techniques and decorative motifs including glazed vessels in green and manganese.
\nAlthough the precise date is unknown, there is archaeological and documentary evidence to show that lustreware production began in Murcia between the twerlfth century and the first half of the thirteenth century. This is confirmed by chemical analysis of samples from the city of Murcia itself and the deserted settlement at Siyasa (Cieza, Murcia). Some lustreware bacini on the facades of Italian churches have been identified as Murcian products, and these reflect the fluid commercial relations between the Kingdom of Ibn Mardanis and the Italian republics which existed at this time.
\nSettlement desertion was one of the results of the reconquest of the city by the Christians and there are numerous archaeological sites whose latest contexts correspond to the second quarter of the thirteenth century. These later contexts profide most of the ceramic evidence for medieval Murcia and include a wide range of forms, sgraffito techniques on manganese and applied decoration usually combined with incision and stamping. In particular, it is worth highlighting the production of reposaderos or supports for storage jars and jugs which are of varying type and complexity. Coarsewares of this period are also of high quality: heat resistant cooking pots of all sizes with fine walls and lids with glazed interior surfaces; miniature ovens for cooking; glazed open forms for the table (deep dish, bowls, and jofainas); alcadafes or large bowls, sometimes glazed; large jars for carrying water; lids for different types of vessels; and lamps.
\nAfter the thirteenth century little is known of pottery production in Murcia, although there may be mudejar centres which continued to imitate earlier styles such as sgraffito techniques over manganese.
\nDuring the fourteenth century craftsmanship continued to decline in Murcia ant the authorities were forced to seek new privileges in an attempt to encourage artisans to settle in the city. There are numerous documentary references to the scarcity of potters at this time. It seems that in the fifteenth-century coarsewares, cooking pots and storage jars of low quality were produced locally and in small quantities whilst quality pieces had to be imported from other centres, such as Valencia or Italy.

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