Tile thumbnail 1

Tile

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

This tile fragment comes from an inscription frieze on the arch above the doorway leading into a tomb. It was part of a magnificent domed mausoleum at Bukhara in Uzbekistan that was erected over the grave of Buyanquli Khan.

Buyanquli Khan was a Muslim descendant of the great Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan and, for a time, the puppet ruler of parts of Central Asia. He was assassinated by a local warlord in 1358 when he tried to assert his own authority. His tomb was built in a cemetery on the outskirts of Bukhara.

The entire building was covered in tiles, inside and out. These 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.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved earthenware, glazed
Brief description
Fragment of an inscription frieze from the tomb of Buyanquli Khan, Uzbekistan (Bukhara), about 1358
Physical description
Fragment of tile carved in relief with Arabic calligraphy. Carved earthenware with a turquoise glaze.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.3cm
  • Width: 27.6cm
  • Depth: 4.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
fragment of Qur'an chapter 41 verse 30
Translation
...the an[gels descen]d upon them...
Gallery label
(Jameel Gallery)
Jameel Gallery

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

9 Fragment of Inscription Frieze
From arch above doorway
Carved earthenware under coloured glaze
Museum no. 971-1901


Object history
From the tomb of Buyanquli Khan in Bukhara
Production
From the tomb of Buyanquli Khan in Bukhara
Summary
This tile fragment comes from an inscription frieze on the arch above the doorway leading into a tomb. It was part of a magnificent domed mausoleum at Bukhara in Uzbekistan that was erected over the grave of Buyanquli Khan.

Buyanquli Khan was a Muslim descendant of the great Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan and, for a time, the puppet ruler of parts of Central Asia. He was assassinated by a local warlord in 1358 when he tried to assert his own authority. His tomb was built in a cemetery on the outskirts of Bukhara.

The entire building was covered in tiles, inside and out. These 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.
Bibliographic reference
Claus-Peter Haase, "Buyan Quli Chan - Baudekor," Damaszener Mitteilungen 11 (1999): 205-25.
Collection
Accession number
971-1901

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Record createdFebruary 23, 2005
Record URL
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