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Square Tile

early 13th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 453
This tile belongs to a unique group of monochrome glazed, molded relief tiles excavated from a palace at Ghazni, in modern Afghanistan. The decoration on this group consists of animals in heraldic poses (as seen here), as well as vegetal scrolls and calligraphy, often surrounded by beaded borders. The excavation stratigraphy dates them to the early thirteenth century, the period of the city’s Ghurid rule. They were probably manufactured in Ghazni especially for the palace.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Square Tile
  • Date: early 13th century
  • Geography: Found Afghanistan, Ghazni
  • Medium: Stonepaste; molded and monochrome glazed
  • Dimensions: H. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)
    W. 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm)
    D. 1/2 in. (1.3 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics-Tiles
  • Credit Line: Gift of Marjorie Schwarz, in memory of Herbert F. and Dorothy C. Schwarz, 1975
  • Object Number: 1975.193.4
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

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Square Tile, Stonepaste; molded and monochrome glazed
Square Tile
early 13th century
Hexagonal Tile, Stonepaste; molded and monochrome glazed
Hexagonal Tile
early 13th century
Mihrab (Prayer Niche), Mosaic of polychrome-glazed cut tiles on stonepaste body; set into mortar
Mihrab (Prayer Niche)
dated 755 AH/1354–55 CE
Turquoise Bowl with Lute Player and Audience, Stonepaste; glazed (opaque monochrome), in-glaze- and overglaze-painted, gilded
Turquoise Bowl with Lute Player and Audience
late 12th–early 13th century
Pierced Jug with Harpies and Sphinxes, Stonepaste; openwork, underglaze-painted, glazed in transparent turquoise
Pierced Jug with Harpies and Sphinxes
dated 612 AH/1215–16 CE

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