Tile thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Tile

early 14th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Tile in the shape of an eight-pointed star (with one point missing), fritware. The central field is decorated in reserve against a ground of golden-brown lustre. A single cypress tree fills the vertical axis, decorated in lustre with a scale motif and filled in with cobalt blue and turquoise pigments. The surrounding area is filled with palmettes and flowers, and at the base of the tile is a small pond with two fishes. Around the edge is a border inscription in cursive script, in lustre on a white ground, and outlined at top and bottom with cobalt blue lines. (Translation of the inscription: "In the name of God! the Compassionate! the Merciful! God! There is no God but He! the Living! the Self-subsisting! Neither slumber seizeth Him, nor sleep; His, whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him but by His own permission? He knoweth what is present with his creatures." Koran: part of 255th verse of 2nd Sura.)


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Fritware, glazed and painted in turquoise, cobalt blue and lustre
Brief description
Tile, fritware, glazed and painted in turquoise, cobalt blue and lustre, Iran (probably Kashan), 13th century
Physical description
Tile in the shape of an eight-pointed star (with one point missing), fritware. The central field is decorated in reserve against a ground of golden-brown lustre. A single cypress tree fills the vertical axis, decorated in lustre with a scale motif and filled in with cobalt blue and turquoise pigments. The surrounding area is filled with palmettes and flowers, and at the base of the tile is a small pond with two fishes. Around the edge is a border inscription in cursive script, in lustre on a white ground, and outlined at top and bottom with cobalt blue lines. (Translation of the inscription: "In the name of God! the Compassionate! the Merciful! God! There is no God but He! the Living! the Self-subsisting! Neither slumber seizeth Him, nor sleep; His, whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him but by His own permission? He knoweth what is present with his creatures." Koran: part of 255th verse of 2nd Sura.)
Dimensions
  • Height: 20.6cm
  • Width: 20.7cm
  • Depth: 1.6cm
Marks and inscriptions
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡحَىُّ ٱلۡقَيُّومُ‌ۚ لَا تَأۡخُذُهُ ۥ سِنَةٌ۬ وَلَا نَوۡمٌ۬‌ۚ لَّهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشۡفَعُ عِندَهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِهِۦ‌ۚ يَعۡلَمُ مَا بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ
Translation
Allah! there is no god but He―the living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before them...
Transliteration
Qur'anic inscription - part of sura 2:255
Production
Inventory record
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceKoran
Collection
Accession number
1525-1876

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Record createdMarch 19, 2009
Record URL
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