Poliva

Poliva

 

the Russian name of a glaze used to cover the surface of ceramic articles. This type of glaze originated in the ancient Orient and was widely used in the Middle Ages. Beginning in the tenth century, poliva was used in Rus’ to glaze various kinds of dishes, tablets, and toys. The production in Rus’ of articles decorated with poliva was interrupted by the Mongol-Tatar invasion of the 13th century. It revived in the 14th century, attaining a high degree of development in the mid-17th century. Green and polychromatic tiles, dishes, toys, and roof tiles were produced.