Beginning in the early tenth century a region spanning present-day Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, Egypt, and Syria came under the rule of the Fatimid dynasty (910–1171). The Fatimids were adherents of the Ismaili sect of Shiism. The dynasty was founded by Abu Muhammad Abd Allah ibn al-Husayn (862–934), known as al-Mahdi (“the rightly guided one”), who claimed descent from Muhammed through his daughter, Fatima. Al-Mahdi set himself up as a Shiite caliph—a rival to the Sunni Abbasid caliph. Al-Mahdi’s first capital was in Kairouan (Tunisia), then in the new city of Mahdia (Tunisia), which he founded in 921. One of his successors, Al-Muizz (r. 953-975) conquered Egypt in 969 and founded another new city, al-Qahira (“The Conquering”), known today as Cairo.

After the conquest, Al-Muizz and his successors, the Fatimid caliphs, undertook an extensive building program. Cairo became one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan urban centers, a hub for trade and a center of manufacturing and the arts. The Fatimid court provided patronage for potters migrating from Iraq, who brought the technique of luster painting with them, initiating a flourishing production of lusterware ceramics. Some of the most remarkable luxury objects of the Fatimid period are made of rock crystal, a precious natural material. Rock crystal was highly valued at the Fatimid court, and the scale of production of rock crystal objects was substantial. Web resources here, here and here.

Ten rock crystal chess pieces with bevelled decoration. Fatimid Egypt. 9th–10th c. Kuwait National Museum, Kuwait City.