Ishkor is the ash of Salsola (saltwort), a desert plant that Rishtan potters have used as the base of their glaze for centuries. This glaze is what sets Rishtan ware apart from mass-produced imitations with applied colour.
Crafts
Rishtan ceramic plate
A plate from Rishtan in the Fergana Valley, hand-painted with cobalt-blue ishkor glaze, with a pattern you recognise at a glance.
Rishtan ceramics are a distinctive school of Uzbek hand-painting from Rishtan, a town in the south of the Fergana Valley. The plates are painted with cobalt-blue plant motifs and finished with ishkor glaze, an alkaline glaze made from the ash of a desert plant.
- Origin
- Uzbekistan (Rishtan, Fergana Valley)
- Category
- Uzbek ceramics and textiles
- Packaging
- Sold individually, 22–28 cm in diameter
- Shelf life
- Lasts indefinitely with careful handling
- Certification
- Not applicable (not a food product)
Rishtan has been the centre of Uzbek ceramics for several hundred years. The town has a number of family workshops, each with its own style. The characteristic cobalt blue comes from natural cobalt, and the plant motifs (mulberry, pomegranate, almond) and geometric patterns are painted freehand with a fine brush.
At the counter we have plates in several diameters (22, 25 and 28 cm), both deep and flat. People use them in different ways: for serving plov to a large group (one shared plate in the middle of the table), for fruit and dried fruit with tea, or as decoration on a kitchen wall.
Care is simple: wash by hand in warm water with a soft sponge, with no harsh detergents and no dishwasher. Sudden changes of temperature (hot food on a cold plate) can crack the ceramic, so warm the plate before serving. Handled with care, it will last for decades.
FAQ
Rishtan ceramic plate: common questions
We would advise against it. Over time, hot water and harsh detergents dull the glaze and wear away the fine painting. It is better to wash it by hand in warm water with a soft sponge.
Rishtan ceramics are traditionally used for serving food and are fired at a high temperature. Ask the seller about documents showing compliance with EU requirements for materials in contact with food. The thing to watch is sudden temperature changes: hot food on a cold plate can cause a crack.
No. The patterns are painted by hand, so even plates from the same series differ in small ways; that is a sign of handwork, not a defect. Each workshop has its own style, and we stock pieces from several of them.
For plov or tea
Everything for dinner at one counter
At Arkan Bazar in Riga you can get everything for a meal in one go: rice, spices, dried fruit, flatbread and tea. Planning a family celebration or cooking for a large group? Write to us through the form in advance, and we will have your order ready on time.