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A large tile with inscription, late 13th - early 14th century, Kashan, Iran
MEDIUM Stone-paste, moulded, opaque white glaze with underglaze turquoise and blue lustre glaze.
DIMENSIONS 19.5 x 32 cm
ACQUISITION Donated by V&A museum
REFERENCE LDSAC 2021.3.4
Kashan was a major centre of tile production from the beginning of the 13th through the middle of the 14th century, many of them, like this tile, decorated in lustre. After a first firing copper and silver oxides are applied to form part of the decoration. The object is then re-fired in a reduced-oxygen atmosphere, causing the oxygen to be removed from the oxides, leaving behind the metallic particles embedded within the surface of the tile. Tiles such as this would have formed part of a decorative inscription band. The black ground of this tile serves as a base for the white floral scrolls, with buds and flowers picked out in turquoise, including a stylized lotus blossom that bears testament to the Chinese influence brought about by the Mongol invasion.
This is part of the SOAS Artwork & Object Collections. See more https://www.soas.ac.uk/gallery/collections/
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