Square Tile Showing a Lion with Foliated Tail

second half 12th–early 13th century

Not on view

This tile belongs 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. Even though 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

Overview

Provenance

Title: Square Tile Showing a Lion with Foliated Tail
Date: second half 12th–early 13th century
Geography: Found Afghanistan, Ghazni
Medium: Earthenware; molded, slipped, and glazed
Dimensions: H. 4 1/16 in. (10.3 cm)
W. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 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: 1975.193.3
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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