In the beginning, there was a gathering of tribes from the north. Then came a five hundred year visit by the Romans, seven hundred years in the company of the Moors, and somewhere in between the introduction of Christianity. The product of an eclectic past, Spanish art design is an intriguing mix of cultures.

It is perhaps most vibrant, most unique in the mutual influences and collaborative efforts of Muslims and Christians over periods of history. Under the rule of Andalusian Caliphs, a magnificent blossoming of culture occurred in Southern Spain, and much of Spanish craft art today is produced using designs and techniques that harken back to Moorish Al-Andalus. Giving special life to that art is the once-upon-a-time civilization that Muslims, Christians, and Jews created together.

Carried to Spain from Iraq, with perhaps influences from the Persians and the Chinese, Moorish ceramic design lent strong inspiration to the pottery of a number of other cultures. The influence was both direct, as in Italian Maiolica and Mexican Talavera, and indirect, as filtered through Italy to arrive in France and Holland.

Metallic glazes, geometric motifs, and lacy floral patterns were all a part of the Moorish style. The brilliant copper and tin-glazed lusterware of the Spanish middle-ages became a milestone in the history of ceramics.