Kashan Calligraphic Tile, Iran, 13 - 14th century, Ilkhanid Dynasty (1256-1353), 29.5cm high, 30cm wide © Amir Mohtashemi Ltd.

This quadrilateral tile is decorated with a beautiful turquoise blue glaze. At the top of the object there is a frieze of repeated and overlapping tendrils that evoke flowers or plants. The central panel features Persian calligraphy written in the naskhi script. The inscription is cobalt blue which contrasts with the turquoise ground and accentuates the chromatic vivacity of the piece. The tile may be translated as follows: 

... زمین چون

“The ground, like … ”

This forms part of a verse from Abdul Qasim Ferdowsi’s (d.1010) epic 10th century poem The Shahnameh. The poem narrates the history of the ancient kings of Iran from the mythical beginnings to the Arab conquest in 651 C.E. The full verse is as follows: 

زمین چون بهشتی شد اراسته
ز داد و ز بخشش پر از خواسته

‘The earth became like an embellished paradise, longing for justice and forgiveness.’ 

This verse is part of the story of the legendary king of the Kayanian dynasty, Key Khosrow, who reigned over Iran for about sixty years. 

A similar tile, with deep blue calligraphy upon a pale ivory ground, can be found in The Musée du Louvre, France (Accession Number MAO2126). Both tiles appear related in their design and form. The upper band of the Louvre example also features a frieze, which is decorated with an entwining floral pattern akin to the style of our piece. The style of calligraphy is also comparable; striking parallels can be drawn between the long, curved brushstroke of the letter nun (ن, ‘n’) on each tile. Beneath the calligraphy of each piece, a straight horizontal line has also been painted. This suggests that our tile may also be attributed to late 13th or early 14th century Kashan.

Provenance: Private European Collection since 1928 

Amir Mohtashemi Ltd. 69 Kensington Church Street, London W8 4BG, United Kingdom