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I found out about it by accident in the book published in 1931, "An Introduction to Persian Art since the Seventh Century A.D" by Arthur Upham Pope; Scribner. People might ask, why the hell I was reading that book. Whatever.
Here some relevent quotations, if you want everything between them just ask.
"How widespread the potter's art was at this time in Persia and yet how closely interrelated the different centres were has been forcibly shown by the recent excavations of Professor Nicholas Marr at Ani. Here in the old Armenian capital, many miles from Tabriz, the nearest famous Persian city, he found not less than a dozen different wares entirely in the style of Ray. The light turquoise is a little bluer than the pieces at Ray, but the others are to all appearances indistinguishable. One fragment of a lustre bowl perfectly in the style of Ray or Kashan might suggest that these pieces were all imported; but kilns were found too, and wasters, proof positive that they were made on the spot."
p.90
" The problem has, however, at last been taken out of the range of controversy by Professor Marr's discovery at Ani of a considerable group of porcelain fragments in the manner of one of the commonest types of Ray pottery, together with fragments and wasters of other typical Ray products. Undoubtedly all these wares, including the porcelain, were locally made, but the industry at Aniclearly represented an extension of the Ray style. Thus if porcelain was not actually made within the boundaries of Persia, it was at least made directly within the Persian cultural circle."
p.93
" In the course of some recent excavations at Ani,the ancient capital of Armenia, Professor Nicholas Marr of Leningrad recovered a large number of glass fragments, many of them richly enamelled. They were found along with pottery fragments, most of them indistinguishable from well-known types from Ray, and with kilns and wasters, sufficient proof that the pottery, at least, was made on the spot, evidently by Persian workmen. Professor Marr and Professor Orbeli of the Hermitage are satisfied that the enamelled glass also was a local product probably likewise made by Persian artisans.
Examples of all various types of glass have been found at Saveh, Aveh, and Nishapur. The fragments have not yet been properly assembled or studied. Indeed, it is really much too early to write any adequate account of mediæval Persian glass."
p.194
I think it is not surprising given the period that Armenians were considered as Persians, and their art as Persian art, since in those years Armenians were considered by many as a "type" of Persian.
I'm just reffering to this, because if there is a way to find some of the researchs of Marr, we might perhaps find copies of pictures or drawing of some Ani buildings now "reconstructed" or destroyed. Steve, if you know of that person, have you attempted to find his research?
MultiQuote
And the thing is that I remember having read those pages finaly.
