How were proverbs and good wishes used on Islamic pottery?

In the context of Islamic arts, inscriptions were a fundamental decorative element on pottery, serving both as a means of identification and as a primary aesthetic device.1

These inscriptions were typically legible and featured proverbs or expressions of good wishes. They were commonly and effectively integrated into the design of ceramic wares, appearing on both high-quality pieces—such as those produced in Nishapur and Samarkand—and on various forms of Islamic folk pottery.12

The use of writing on these objects was part of a broader decorative vocabulary that included vegetal arabesques, geometric patterns, and animal motifs. By incorporating these meaningful phrases, potters transformed utilitarian vessels into objects that carried social, cultural, or moral significance, reflecting the high value placed on calligraphy throughout the Islamic world.13