Dear friends of the Museum for Islamic Art,

we would like to invite you to a three-day workshop on making luster ceramics with Iranian artist Abbas Akbari between September 01-04, 2022 in Berlin.

Luster is a glazing technique developed in Mesopotamia and Persia in the 9th/10th century that covers objects with a unique golden gloss. This technique has been largely forgotten and the secret knowledge of how to create luster has allmost died out. The master ceramist and professor Abbas Akbari from Kashan (Iran) has now succeeded in deciphering the old recipes in primary sources and reviving the medieval technique in self-built kilns.

On the occasion of the new star object in the museum (an elaborately restored chandelier vase by Peter and Irene Ludwig foundation ), Mr. Akbari made a tactile object for visitors. Its making-of is demonstrated in the accompanying film. In Sepember 2022, you will be able to experience this special manufacturing process live together with the artist: Create your own ceramics with luster glaze!

Thursday, September 01, 10 am – 4 pm: Introduction to the technique of luster glaze.

Friday, 02 September, 10 am – 4 pm: Painting and placing the objects in the kiln.

Saturday, 03 September: - Free - (firing process)

Sunday, 04 September, 10 am – 4 pm: removal of the objects from the kiln, discussion, come together

Place: Berlin Glas e.V., Provinzstraße 42a, 13409 Berlin
Workshop in English language.

Participation is limited to 15 people and only possible for all three days together. Please register for the workshop free of charge and bindingly via isl@smb.museum. Should an emergency arise, we ask you to cancel immediately in order to be able to allocate the place to other interested persons.

With best regards Your Board,

Irene Fellmann    Peter Heine    Nadia Nagie    Katja Şıdım    Cornelia Weber    Stefan Weber