Taws porcelain, rooted in centuries of trade between Morocco, the Far East, and Europe, became a prized part of Moroccan households, particularly during Ramadan and special occasions. Originally known as Imari ware, it reflects Morocco's rich history of global trade and cultural exchange. Taws porcelain is the prized possession of every Moroccan mother, household, and kitchen. During Ramadan, the blue-red-white and gold-adorned plates, chargers, and bowls, featuring the emblematic peacock motif—known as «Taws»—take center stage on Moroccan tables. In Morocco, this porcelain set has become an integral part of culinary rituals, celebrations, and home decor. Deeply embedded in Moroccan culture, Taws porcelain has even deeper roots in the history of European and Moroccan trade, extending all the way to the Far East. Long before the emergence of Taws in its modern style and design, Far Eastern porcelain had already made quite a stir in the world. Chinese porcelain, in particular, had been highly valued across the Muslim world since the Abbasid era. It was especially prized by rulers and the wealthy. In Morocco, by the time of the famous traveler Ibn Battuta, Chinese porcelain was already known, as he noted when visiting China in the 14th century. However, the true obsession with Chinese porcelain was most evident among the Ottomans, who amassed vast collections. They favored blue and white Chinese ware, influenced by Islamic prohibitions on eating from precious metal vessels. A reception at Badi' Palace with food served on Far Eastern ware In tracing the Moroccan tradition of owning Taws, or Imari ware, researchers Nadia Erzini and Stephen Vernoit, in their study «Imari Porcelain in Morocco» published in Muqarnas: An Annual on the Visual Culture of the Islamic World XXVI (161-179), suggested that Ottoman influence may have encouraged Moroccans to purchase their first Far Eastern porcelain. According to the researchers, the Hajj pilgrimage provided Moroccan officials and merchants opportunities to immerse themselves in Ottoman culture. Diplomatic exchanges between Morocco and the Ottomans also played a role, with both the Saadian (1510–1656) and Alawi dynasties engaged in trade with the Ottoman court, and exchanging goods that included porcelain. This might explain the account of Moroccan ambassador Abu-l-Hasan al-Tamgruti, who led an embassy to the Ottoman Sultan Murad III. During a banquet at the Badi' Palace of the Saadian dynasty in Marrakech, he described a royal reception where food was served on «...gilt dishes from Malaga and Valencia, and on admirable dishes from Turkey and from India [presumably Far Eastern]...» as quoted by Erzini and Vernoit. They suggest that al-Tamgruti likely dined from Far Eastern porcelain, which had begun to replace Spanish lusterware and even Iznik pottery in Morocco. Morocco's geographic position further facilitated European maritime trade, which began in the 16th century and introduced Chinese porcelain, initially through Portuguese merchants. During the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal occupied most of Morocco's ports, and Chinese or Far Eastern porcelain may have reached Morocco through these routes. Archaeological evidence supports this. Excavations at Ksar Sghir, a port held by the Portuguese between 1458 and 1550, revealed Chinese porcelain among the uppermost levels of Portuguese occupation debris, dating to the first half of the 16th century, according to Erzini and Vernoit. Japanese Imari ware and European trade Beyond Turkish influence and Portuguese trade with China and Japan, which may have introduced Far Eastern porcelain into Moroccan courts, the Taws known today is not of Chinese origin but rather Japanese. Known as Imari ware—named after the port of Imari from which it was exported—this style refers to brightly colored Arita ware, a type of Japanese export porcelain produced in northwestern Kyūshū's former Hizen Province. Imari porcelain, the earliest form of Taws, first arrived in Morocco in the early 18th century, coinciding with the country's expanding trade and diplomatic relations with Europe, particularly England and the Netherlands. Erzini and Vernoit explain that in the 17th century, Dutch and English consuls stationed in Morocco—particularly in Tetouan and Salé—facilitated trade. Late nineteenth century Tetuane. / Ph. Nadia Erzini and Stephen Vernoit By the 17th century, the Dutch East India Company was actively trading Far Eatstern porcelain across various regions, including Morocco, as the Dutch were the only European traders permitted in Japan, where Imari was first produced. Dutch archives reference Moroccan demand for Far Eastern porcelain from Amsterdam merchants involved in the Levant trade. In 1788, records show that 640 Chinese Imari «punch bowls» were shipped to Morocco, requiring designs «beautifully painted like turbans and rich with gold». The English were also involved. Due to ongoing conflicts with Spain, the English sought a port for ship repairs and supplies. In 1656, Commander Robert Blake secured an agreement with Tetouan's governor, Abd al-Karim Naqsis, allowing English ships to use the port. Anglo-Moroccan relations further developed in 1662 when Charles II acquired Tangier as part of Princess Catherine of Braganza's dowry. Though England withdrew from Tangier in 1684, the establishment of a permanent British base in Gibraltar in 1704 significantly impacted trade in the 18th and 19th centuries. A Moroccan obsession with Imari ware By the 18th century, demand for China ware, or Imari porcelain (as China later took over Japan's production of this variety), had become widespread in Morocco. Sources indicate that in 1721, a British diplomatic mission to Sultan Ismail presented a gift that included a chandelier, cloth, sugar, and a box of china ware. In 1727, a large box of china was gifted to the governor of Tetouan, while another box of china ware and a box of china jars filled with sweetmeats were presented to the sultan, Erzini and Vernoit noted. Imari pieces from this period have survived in private collections. According to Erzini and Vernoit, the earliest and finest Japanese Imari pieces remaining in Morocco are large chargers or plates dating to the early 18th century. «A charger preserved in a private collection in Tetouan with a diameter of 53.5 centimeters has a sloping rim and a decoration divided into three shaped panels. An almost identical charger, with the same diameter, is in the collection of Queen Elizabeth II, and another is in the Freda and Ralph Lupin Collection», they reported. Chargers of Japanese Imari early 18th century, Tetuane from private collection. / Ph. Nadia Erzini Stephen Vernoit Another 18th-century Imari charger in Tetouan, featuring a rare design of a vase on a table with a red tablecloth surrounded by four cartouches with lions, also stands out. The researchers explain that such porcelain may have been transshipped in London, given the proximity between Tetouan and British-controlled Gibraltar. Moroccans favored Imari ware with large-scale motifs and richly patterned surfaces highlighted with gold, symbolizing wealth and status. Over time, the three-color Imari palette of blue, red, and gold became more vivid and refined. In the early 18th century, a pink wash derived from colloidal gold was introduced, alongside additional colors such as yellow, green, aubergine, and black. Imari porcelain served both functional and decorative purposes in Morocco. Chargers were used for communal eating, while bowls and lidded jars stored essential Moroccan foodstuffs such as oil, honey, preserves, clarified butter (smen), and dried meat preserved in fat (khlii). Known as Taws since the 19th century The word Taws, however, according to research, is not a new appellation for Imari ware. In Morocco, Imari ware was commonly referred to as Taws (also spelled tawus), a term linked to the peacock, which in fact refers to the phoenix often depicted on these ceramics. The word Taws appears in 19th-century Moroccan records. Documents from the Erzini family archive, which imported goods from Gibraltar to the interior of Morocco, particularly Tetouan, and the Corcos archive, a prominent Essaouira Jewish family, detail the importation of porcelain through the ports of Tetouan and Essaouira, which was then transported inland to Fez and Marrakech. References to Imari ware appear in letters, commercial transactions, financial records, and inheritance documents. One notable mention of Taws comes from Teodoro de Cuevas, a Spanish diplomat, historian, and longtime resident of northern Morocco. In 1884, he noted that these wares were expensive and faced competition from more affordable French porcelain, according to researchers. Who says Taws, says Tea In Morocco, Taws was highly sought after by the Sultan, the royal family, and high-ranking officials. For instance, the Erzini family's records from 1855–56 mention dozens of Far Eastern teacups, including a set purchased for a minister. In 1864, Mohamed El Mokhtar Al Jamai—later Grand Vizier—requested six exceptionally fine Taws cups from Abraham Corcos in Essaouira. The imported items included sets of cups, plates, bowls, and lidded jars. What is intriguing about the history of Taws in Morocco is its unexpected connection to the country's tea trade. In fact, the growing demand for tea in the 19th century also led to the increased importation of Imari porcelain in Morocco. The explanation is that ships transporting tea from the Far East often carried porcelain chests beneath the tea crates, as porcelain was non-odorous and helped protect the tea from water damage. Imari ware from China, along with its imitations, continued to hold significant status among Moroccans. In the twentieth century, glass-fronted cabinets became displays for the prized Taws ware. These porcelain pieces also remained a must-have for Moroccan table settings, especially for special occasions like weddings. Today, imitation Imari is mass-produced in both China and Morocco, often featuring a peacock design and even the word twas inscribed on the back of the plates.
