81 - IRAN

IRAN Epigraphic tile made of glazed siliceous ceramic. KASHAN, ILKHANID ART, late 13th–early 14th century. Rectangular wall tile with molded and painted decoration in metallic lustre, adorned with a broad Arabic inscription in cobalt blue relief in the Qur’anic script, set against a background of stylized scrolls and foliage accented with turquoise. Inscription: Excerpt from the Quran, Sura 39 (Al-Zumar, “The Groups”), the end of verse 75 (the last verse of the sura), corresponding to the words: “(…) People will be judged with complete justice, and it will be said, ‘Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.’” H. 16 cm - W. 42.5 cm - D. 3.5 cm AJ Several visible old fractures that have been re-glued, with associated restoration, including some repainting, chips, and losses along the edges. The reverse has been reinforced by an old plaster repair; there is a metal reinforcement bar and two iron hanging hooks sealed into the sides. An old handwritten label bearing the number “88.” Related work: Musée du Louvre (Department of Islamic Art, Inv. No. MAO 2122) The glazed epigraphic tiles produced in Kashan during the 13th and 14th centuries were intended for use as cladding on religious monuments (mosques, mausoleums). They formed long, continuous friezes in which sacred texts flowed from one tile to the next.