Tile Panel thumbnail 1
Tile Panel thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Islamic Middle East, Room 42, The Jameel Gallery

Tile Panel

ca. 1359 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

At Bukhara in Uzbekistan, a magnificent domed mausoleum was erected over the grave of a Muslim descendant of the great Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan. For a time this man, Buyanquli Khan, was the puppet ruler of parts of Central Asia, but in 1358, when he tried to assert his own authority, he was assassinated by a local warlord.

Buyanquli's tomb was built in a cemetery on the outskirts of Bukhara. The entire building was covered in tiles, inside and out.

The tiles were deeply carved with inscriptions and other ornament, and covered with coloured glazes before the final firing. This impressive technique was used in Central Asia only for a brief period, from around 1350 to the early 15th century.

These tiles come from an inscription frieze which framed the building's entrance.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 8 parts.

  • Panel
  • Panel
  • Panel
  • Panel
  • Panel
  • Panel
  • Panel
  • Panel
Materials and techniques
Carved earthenware under coloured glazes
Brief description
Section of an inscription frieze from the tomb of Buyanquli Khan, Uzbekistan (Bukhara), about 1358
Physical description
Panel of tiles with part of an inscription. Carved earthenware with a turquoise glaze.
Dimensions
  • Height: 50.5cm
  • Width: 224.4cm
  • Depth: 8cm
measurements include frame
Gallery label
Jameel Gallery 1-13 Tiles from the Tomb of Buyanquli Khan Uzbekistan, Bukhara About 1358 1 Section from Inscription Frieze From frame around entrance Carved earthenware under coloured glaze Museum no. 2031-1899 (2006)
Object history
Taken from the facade of the tomb of Buyanquli Khan in Bukhara. Bought from Mr M Tahtadjian of Batoum (Georgia) in 1899.
Production
From the tomb of Buyanquli Khan in Bukhara (modern Uzbekistan).
Summary
At Bukhara in Uzbekistan, a magnificent domed mausoleum was erected over the grave of a Muslim descendant of the great Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan. For a time this man, Buyanquli Khan, was the puppet ruler of parts of Central Asia, but in 1358, when he tried to assert his own authority, he was assassinated by a local warlord.

Buyanquli's tomb was built in a cemetery on the outskirts of Bukhara. The entire building was covered in tiles, inside and out.

The tiles were deeply carved with inscriptions and other ornament, and covered with coloured glazes before the final firing. This impressive technique was used in Central Asia only for a brief period, from around 1350 to the early 15th century.

These tiles come from an inscription frieze which framed the building's entrance.
Collection
Accession number
2031:1 to 8-1899

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Record createdAugust 6, 2004
Record URL
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