Art Institute of Chicago

Ceramic Architectural Decoration

Islamic

13th century

Attribution

Iran

Medium

Fritware, with carved and molded decoration under a turquoise glaze

Physical dimensions

52.1 × 40.5 × 5.6 cm (20 1/2 × 16 × 2 3/16)

Credit line

Gift of Frank G. Logan, Henry J. Patten, and Martin A. Ryerson

From the museum

Tiles like this would probably have embellished the tops of fortress walls as decorative projections. The molding process used to make this tile would have allowed for the easy production of identical pieces, an important consideration in a region in which symmetry and repetition were highly valued. The arabesque design, molded in three dimensions, emphasizes the interlacing pattern of elements weaving over and under one another. This decorative feature can also be found in other objects from the era, such as metalwork.

Description: Art Institute of Chicago · CC BY 4.0