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Lot Essay
By the thirteenth century, monochrome turquoise-glazed tiles moulded in the form of a mihrab were commonly used in mausolea and shrines. A notable feature of this group is the lamp at the centre of the architectural niche which calls to mind the Light Verse commonly inscribed on actual mosque lamps. The use of this imagery in mausolea and shrines participates in a visual vocabulary that reinforces the sacred text and serves to reinforce the sanctity of a person or place (Khoury, 1992, p.15).
The layout of our tile is closely related to a turquoise mihrab tile in the Harvard Art Museums (inv.no.1955.89), and its fine moulding is comparable to a further similar fragment in the Smithsonian (inv.no. F1908.168). The Harvard Art Museum example was most likely used to adorn the actual mihrab niches (Khoury, 1992, p.15). The similarity in form of our tile would suggest that it had a similar function, especially since its Qur’anic inscription refers to one of the times of prayer.
The layout of our tile is closely related to a turquoise mihrab tile in the Harvard Art Museums (inv.no.1955.89), and its fine moulding is comparable to a further similar fragment in the Smithsonian (inv.no. F1908.168). The Harvard Art Museum example was most likely used to adorn the actual mihrab niches (Khoury, 1992, p.15). The similarity in form of our tile would suggest that it had a similar function, especially since its Qur’anic inscription refers to one of the times of prayer.