Tile from a Frieze

Turquoise-glazed frieze tile with Kufic inscription

This is a rare example of a frieze tile in the technique of overglaze-enamel painting (so-called minai). The upper and lower borders are raised from the main field and are decorated with gilded patterns. The main inscription in relief is in a stylized Kufic script outlined in brown. Gilded foliated ornaments are on the background. The inscription is probably from Qur'an 15:92 (fa-wa rabhbka lanas'i}lannahum ajma'Ina, meaning "[So, by your Lord,] We would [most certainly ques]tion them all." Because of the religious nature of the inscription, we can surmise that this tile was probably set in a frieze around a mihrab. Other tiles probably from the same frieze, according to the style of calligraphy and of the border decorations, are preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and in the Museum für Islamische Kunst, Berlin.

[Carboni and Masuya 1993]

Inscription: In Arabic in kufic script:
(a) laihum ajma'in; upon all of them
According to Annemarie Schimmel (November 1990), this is most probably the end of a blessing formula for the Prophet Muhammad and the imams

[ Folsom Galleries, New York, until 1911; sold to MMA]

Bloomington. Indiana University. "Islamic Art Across the World," June 18, 1970–October 1, 1970, no. 216.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Hagop Kevorkian Fund Special Exhibitions Gallery. "Persian Tiles," May 4, 1993–January 2, 1994, no. 5.

New York. The Hagop Kevorkian Special Exhibitions Gallery, New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "The Nature of Islamic Ornament Part I: Calligraphy," February 26–June 28, 1998, no catalogue.

Bowie, Theodore Robert. "An Exhibition Prepared by Theodore Bowie." In Islamic Art Across the World. Vol. no. 1970/3. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Art Museum, June 17 to Oct. 1, 1970. no. 216.

Carboni, Stefano, and Tomoko Masuya. Persian Tiles. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1993. no. 5, p. 10, ill. (b/w).