Physical description
Tile from a frieze at the palace of Takht-i Sulayman with a moulded design, copper-green and cobalt-blue painted into the glaze, and lustre decoration painted over the glaze. The main scene depicts a Chinese four-clawed dragon and cloud scrolls.
Place of Origin
Takht-i Sulayman, Iran (made)
Date
ca. 1275 (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Moulded fritware with colour in and lustre over the glaze
Dimensions
Height: 35.7 cm, Width: 36.5 cm, Depth: 3 cm maximum, Weight: 5.3 kg
Descriptive line
Moulded earthenware tile with a representation of a Chinese dragon, Iran (Takht-i Sulayman), about 1275.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Watson, Oliver. Persian Lustre Ware. London: Faber and Faber, 1985. ISBN 0-571-13235-9. Colour Plate L/b, p. 136
Curatola, Giovanni, 'Draghi', Eurasiatica, n.15. Venice: Universita' degli Studi di Venezia, 1989. 168p., ill. Fig. 57, text p67
Komaroff, Linda, and Carboni, Stefano, (eds), The legacy of Genghis Khan, Courtly Art and Culture in Western Asia, 1256-1353, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2002. Catalogue of the Exhibition from Nov.5, 2002 to Feb. 16, 2003. ISBN1-58839-071-3 (1-58839-071-3 pbk; 0-300-09691-7 Yale U. P.). Cat. Entry 100, p265, Fig. 100
Exhibition History
The Legacy of Genghis Khan: Courtly Art and Culture in Western Asia, 1256-1353 (Los Angeles County Museum of Art 13/04/2003-27/07/2003)
The Legacy of Genghis Khan: Courtly Art and Culture in Western Asia, 1256-1353 (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 28/10/2002-16/02/2003)
Labels and date
Tile with Chinese Dragon
Iran, Takht-i Sulayman
About 1275
This tile and that showing Bahram Gur hunting once decorated the summer palace of Takht-i Sulayman in the mountains of north-west Iran. The palace was built by Iran's Mongol rulers, who followed the Chinese in using the dragon and the phoenix as symbols of imperial power.
Moulded fritware, with colour in the glaze and lustre over the glaze
Museum no. 541-1900 [2006]
Techniques
Lustre
Subjects depicted
Floral patterns; Dragons; Cloud scrolls
Categories
Islam; Ceramics; Tiles; Earthenware; Lustre ware
Collection code
MES
