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Two tiles, second half of 12th–early 13th century
Afghanistan
Earthenware, molded and glazed; H. 3 5/16 in. (8.3 cm), W. 3 1/4 in. (8.2 cm)
Gift of Marjorie Schwarz, 1975 (1975.193.5,6)

These two tiles belong to a series found in Ghazni, the capital of the Ghaznavid dynasty (977–1186), in a house destroyed during the Mongol invasion of 1221. Most of the tiles in the series are square, some are polygonal, and are molded in relief with animals, plants, or occasionally inscriptions. Even though these tiles are unique in style, their decoration shows affinities with classical pre-Islamic motifs from Iran, such as the "pearl" borders and the animals in profile within a frame.


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  • Two tiles, second half of 12th–early 13th century
    Afghanistan
    Earthenware, molded and glazed; H. 3 5/16 in. (8.3 cm), W. 3 1/4 in. (8.2 cm)
    Gift of Marjorie Schwarz, 1975 (1975.193.5,6)