Star-Shaped Tile

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 455

This eight-pointed star tile was once part of a panel of star- and cross-shaped tiles adorning the walls of an Ilkhanid building. Likely produced in the ceramic center of Kashan, it depicts the waq-waq design of a plant whose tendrils develop into the heads of animals, a feature which came into Iran during the Seljuq period. The Persian text running along the border of the tile is an excerpt from the Shahnama in which Rustam, one of the tale’s great heroes, is engaged in battle.

Star-Shaped Tile, Stonepaste; inglaze painted in blue and turquoise and luster-painted on opaque white glaze

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Star-Shaped Tile, Stonepaste; inglaze painted in blue and turquoise and luster-painted on opaque white glaze
Star-Shaped Tile, Stonepaste; inglaze painted in blue and turquoise and luster-painted on opaque white glaze
Star-Shaped Tile, Stonepaste; inglaze painted in blue and turquoise and luster-painted on opaque white glaze
Star-Shaped Tile, Stonepaste; inglaze painted in blue and turquoise and luster-painted on opaque white glaze
Star-Shaped Tile, Stonepaste; inglaze painted in blue and turquoise and luster-painted on opaque white glaze

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.