Tile Panel thumbnail 1

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 ornamental frieze on the entrance of the tomb.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
  • Tile
Materials and techniques
Carved earthenware under coloured glazes
Brief description
Section of an ornamental frieze from the tomb of Buyanquli Khan, Uzbekistan (Bukhara), about 1358
Physical description
Panel of tiles with geometric (octagonal) repeat motif
Dimensions
  • Height: 138.2cm
  • Width: 26.5cm
  • Depth: 7cm
measurements include frame
Gallery label
(Jameel Gallery)
Jameel Gallery

1-13 Tiles from the Tomb of Buyanquli Khan
Uzbekistan, Bukhara
About 1358

3 Section from Ornamental Frieze
Carved earthenware under coloured glaze
Museum no. 584-1900


Object history
Taken from the facade of the tomb of Buyanquli Khan in Bukhara
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 ornamental frieze on the entrance of the tomb.
Collection
Accession number
584 to C-1900

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Record createdAugust 9, 2004
Record URL
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