Tile
BackDescription:
Eight-pointed star tile, repaired with a fragment of another tile. Fritware (stonepaste), painted in blue, turquoise and lustre over an opaque white glaze. The central field is et in the open, with flowers, foliage and a plump bird. It depicts a seated figure and a second, stooping, figure who is pouring wine from a bottle into an open bowl supported on a tripod. Both are wearing richly patterned tunics with hats with back flaps and feathers. Two smaller faces behind probably represent attendants. The inscription around the border contains a number of elements: verses of Persian poetry, a statement that it was made in Kashan and the date are followed by a phrase in Arabic. The lower right edge has been broken off and replaced by a fragment of another tile showing the beginnings of a verse from the Shahnameh.
Object type: | tile |
Museum number: | OA+.1123 |
Culture/period: | Ilkhanid dynasty |
Date: | 1338-1339 (AH 739) |
Production place: | Made in: Kashan (stated in inscription) |
Materials: | stonepaste |
Technique: | mould-made, lustred |
Dimensions: | Height: 21.20 cm Width: 21.60 cm Thickness: 1.60 cm |
Inscriptions: | Inscription details: inscription (border) in Persian in naskh script Inscription quoted: Inscription translation: Verses of poetry / made in Kashan AH 739 Inscription: Inscription details: inscription (border) in Arabic in naskh script Inscription quoted: Inscription translation: May God protect it from the vicissitudes of time |
Location: | 11 |
Exhibition history: | Exhibited: 2014 20 Feb-18 May, London, Courtauld Gallery, 'Court and Craft in Medieval Mosul: A Masterpiece of Arab Metalwork' 2003 13 Apr-27 Jul, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), 'The Legacy of Genghis Khan: Courtly Art and Culture in Western Asia, 1256-1353' 2002-2003 5 Nov-16 Feb, New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 'The Legacy of Genghis Khan: Courtly Art and Culture in Western Asia, 1256-1353' |
Subjects: | food/drink, bird, calligraphy, gathering |
Associated names: | Associated with: Firdausi |
Associated titles: | Associated Title: Shahnameh~Associated Title: Qur'an |
Acquisition date: | 1975 |
Curator's comments:
By the thirteenth century glazed tiles were widely used in Iran to decorate the facades and interiors of both religious and secular buildings. In addition to monochrome glazed tiles, lustre star and cross tiles enjoyed increasing favour from the beginning of the thirteenth century well into the next century. In mosques, mausolea and religious schools ('madrasas') the Muslim injunction against the use of human imagery resulted in star tiles with non-figurative decoration and borders of Qur'anic inscriptions. By contrast, tiles with human and animal figures and well-known verses from Persian literature adorned the interiors of secular buildings. The general theme of a number of tiles from the British Museum collections produced in Kashan at the end of the 13th century is epicurean pleasure, such as romance (1878.1230.561), eating (OA+. 1123) and drinking (G.229). On the reverse of this object is a rectangular paper label which reads '21', printed in black with a larger paper label reading '24' written in black ink in Persian numbers, '153' written in red ink and '1459' written in pencil. The objects furthermore has a red seal.
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