In this late-night deep dive, we explore how the blue in your classic “Chinese” vase actually started in 9th-century Iraq. We examine into how Abbasid cobalt mastery traveled east via Mongol routes and birthed Yuan/Ming blue-and-white porcelain.

We explore:

• Basra workshops and Persian cobalt mines
• Mongol Pax Mongolica trade explosion
• Reverse influence loop
• Modern cobalt ties

Sources:

• Qatar Museums cobalt collections
• Jingdezhen porcelain history
• Ilkhanid hybrid wares