- Tile
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Tile
- Place of origin:
Iran (made)
- Date:
1275-1325 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Unknown
- Materials and Techniques:
Fritware with glazing
- Museum number:
1025-1892
- Gallery location:
Islamic Middle East, room 42, case WE7
The invasions of Iran by pagan Mongols in the thirteenth century brought devastation and disruption, especially in the east. But they were followed by a period of increasing prosperity, as the unification of much of Asia under Mongol rule caused a boom in international trade. One result of this was an increase in the influence of Chinese art on the art of Iran. This included the use of Chinese-inspired imperial symbols like the dragon and phoenix.
For a time after the Mongol conquest, secular imagery developed for palace walls was sometimes used on tiles destined for religious buildings - a striking departure from the usual avoidance of figural imagery in religious contexts. In this example, the Mongol imperial symbol of a phoenix in flight is framed by a quotation from the Qur'an.
