A KASHAN MOULDED LUSTRE AND COBALT-BLUE CALLIGRAPHIC POTTERY TILE
A KASHAN MOULDED LUSTRE AND COBALT-BLUE CALLIGRAPHIC POTTERY TILE
1 More
This lot has been imported from outside of the UK … Read more
A KASHAN MOULDED LUSTRE AND COBALT-BLUE CALLIGRAPHIC POTTERY TILE

ILKHANID IRAN, LATE 13TH/EARLY 14TH CENTURY

Details
A KASHAN MOULDED LUSTRE AND COBALT-BLUE CALLIGRAPHIC POTTERY TILE
ILKHANID IRAN, LATE 13TH/EARLY 14TH CENTURY
Moulded with a bold cobalt-blue inscription in thuluth on scrolling foliate lustre ground
7 1/2 x 14 1/4in. (19 x 36cm.)
Provenance
Charles Gillot (1853-1903), Paris
Thence by descent until sold by Christie's Paris, 4-5 March 2008, lot 1
Engraved
Qur'an LXXVI, sura al-insan, v. 14 (part).
Special notice
This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice. 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.

Brought to you by

Behnaz Atighi Moghaddam
Behnaz Atighi Moghaddam Head of Sale

Lot Essay

INSCRIPTIONS:
Qur'an LXXVI, sura al-insan, v. 14 (part).

On this tile the Qur'anic inscription in elegant, cobalt-blue thuluth stands out in relief against the lustre foliate ground. Its decorative style, imposing calligraphy and size indicate that it would have formed part of an architectural frieze, probably set above a dado of geometric, star-shaped tiles of the same style. The absence of figural details on our tile, such as birds within the foliage surrounding the Qur’anic inscription, suggests that it was made for a mosque or religious structure, where the strict aniconic rule applies. A number of similar tiles now form part of prominent museum collections. See for example a tile in the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco (inv. no. B60P2132). A comparable tile whose inscription comprises the following part of this Qur’anic verse was sold at Sotheby’s, London, 9 April 2014, lot 2. Another sold in these Rooms, 2 May 2019, lot 21.

More from Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds Including Oriental Rugs and Carpets

View All
View All