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Square Tile

late 12th–early 13th century
Not on view
This tile 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. Although 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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Square Tile
  • Date: late 12th–early 13th century
  • Geography: Found Afghanistan, Ghazni
  • Medium: Earthenware; molded and monochrome glazed
  • Dimensions: H. 3 5/16 in. (8.4 cm)
    W. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics-Tiles
  • Credit Line: Gift of Marjorie Schwarz, in memory of Herbert F. and Dorothy C. Schwarz, 1975
  • Object Number: 1975.193.5
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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