TEHRAN, IRAN, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY

Details

A LARGE QAJAR MOULDED POTTERY TILE
TEHRAN, IRAN, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY
Moulded and painted in polychrome over a white ground, the cobalt-blue field with a court scene of two seated princely figures, surrounded by courtiers, musicians and dancing girls, border with scrolling vine and perching birds, intact
15 3/8 x 20 7/8in. (39 x 53cm.)

Special notice

The USA prohibits the purchase by US persons of Iranian-origin “works of conventional craftsmanship” such as carpets, textiles, decorative objects, and scientific instruments. The US sanctions apply to US persons regardless of the location of the transaction or the shipping intentions of the US person. For this reason, Christie’s will not accept bids by US persons on this lot. Non-US persons wishing to import this lot into the USA are advised that they will need to apply for an OFAC licence and that this can take many months to be granted.

Conditions of sale

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Behnaz Atighi Moghaddam Head of Sale

batighi@christies.com +44 20 7389 2509

Lot Essay

Cast in a mould and then painted under the glaze, such Qajar tiles could be easily reproduced and it is possible to find the same composition with various colour schemes and finishes. The courtly scene depicted on the present tile appears to be based on the murals of the Chehel Sutun palace in Isfahan, completed by Shah 'Abbas II in 1647. A very similar tile, possibly from the same mould, was sold in these Rooms on 5 October 2010, lot 266, and another at Sotheby’s on 1 May 2019, lot 262.

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