Chinese ceramics played an inspirational role in the development of early Islamic pottery. In the ninth century Iraqi potters at first closely imitated costly imported wares, but over time they added their own designs as well as Arabic inscriptions and introduced cobalt blue alongside manganese purple and copper green. The stylized date palm at the center of this bowl reflected the local environment, as Iraq was known for its fertile lands abundant in this remarkably versatile tree, which provided fruit and shade, among other things.

• Pope, Arthur Upham, and Phyllis Ackerman, eds. A Survey of Persian Art from Prehistoric Times to the Present. Vol. 5, Plates 511-980: Architectural Ornament; Pottery and Faience; The Art of the Book. London: Oxford University Press, 1938.

• Pope, Arthur Upham, and Phyllis Ackerman, eds. A Survey of Persian Art from Prehistoric Times to the Present. Vol. 2, Text: Architecture; the Ceramic Arts; Calligraphy and Epigraphy. London: Oxford University Press, 1939.
• Komaroff, Linda. Beauty and Identity: Islamic Art from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2016.
• Ettinghausen, Richard; Grabar, Oleg; and Jenkins-Madina, Marilyn.  Islamic Art and Architecture 650-1250.  New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2001.