Tile with Niche Design

early 14th century

Not on view

This large rectangular panel consists of two ceramic tiles from Kashan in Iran in the shape of a niche framed on three sides by an inscribed band. Tiles like this example commonly adorned mosques, tombs, or other Iranian buildings, especially during the Ilkhanid period when glazed tiles were used extensively for architectural decoration. The tile is painted in luster and heavily inscribed with Qur’anic verses from Surat al-Naba (78:1-14, 14-28), Surat al-Imran (3:18-19), and Surat al-Qadr (97: 1-5) referencing the Day of Judgement, the Oneness of Allah and the Twenty-seventh night of Ramadan.

Artwork Details

Title: Tile with Niche Design
Date: early 14th century
Geography: Made in Iran, Kashan
Medium: Stonepaste; luster-painted
Dimensions: H. 46 in. (116.8 cm)
W. 28 in. (71.1 cm)
Wt. 151 lbs. (68.5 kg)
(top half :72 lbs, bottom half: 79 lbs. WB 6/09)
Classification: Ceramics-Tiles
Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Object Number: 17.190.2040a, b
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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Corner Tile, Stonepaste; modeled, inglaze painted in blue and luster-painted on opaque white glaze — Corner Tile
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