I was fortunate enough to attend a lustre workshop by Abbas Akbari arranged by the V&A museum on March 2023.
Abbas Akbari is an award winning Iranian ceramicist and sculptor, based at the University of Kashan, Iran and a member of the International Academy of Ceramics. In his artistic practice, he has revived ancient and medieval lustre techniques by researching historical literature and Persian and Arab archeological sites as well as conducting painstaking ceramic experimentation.
By formulating a metallic oxide ‘ceramic-paste’ and applying this to pre-fired stoneware, Akbari fires these works at 650c in a traditional hand-built reduction kiln.
Lustre firing is a complex and challenging process, if successful leads to stunning iridescent glass and ceramic objects. Akbari can be credited for reviving this nearly lost technique and bring this to worldwide audiences.
Following the lustre workshop we were given a lecture on Persian lustre collections at the V&A Museum by IHF Curator Fucshia Hart; followed by a lustreware handling session.
I would like to thank the V&A Museum for making this workshop possible. It was a real pleasure to meet Dr Abbas Akbari and learn first hand about this important, historic ceramic practice.
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