Architecture, ceramic, glazed, Mughal, c. 1650

The earthenware tile decorated in cuerda seca technique is divided into three bands of scrolling and abstract motifs reminiscent of carpet borders of the period. The central larger band has a yellow ground with a green, orange and blue scroll. The outer guard stripes, which are delineated by orange margins, have alternate blue and yellow motifs enclosing a green leaf.

This tile is one of a group of 63 acquired in 1923 from Mr Frederick H. Andrews. He had been living in Srinagar where he had been Director of the Technical Institute of Kashmir and wrote to the museum in 1922 offering to sell his collection before he left that year to return to the UK. The tiles are said to have come from the tomb of Madani near But Kadal in Srinagar, Kashmir. The building dates from the mid-fifteenth century, but it was refurbished by a Mughal nobleman in Shah Jahan’s time. The tiles probably were made in Lahore.

This is one of a group of 63 tiles said to have come from the tomb of Madani near But Kadal in Srinagar, Kashmir. The building is of mid-fifteenth-century date, but it was refurbished by a Mughal nobleman in the time of Shah Jahan (r. 1628-1658).

IM.259-1923