Column thumbnail 1

Column

ca. 1360 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This column once formed part of the magnificent decoration of a mausoleum. The mausoleum was built over the grave of a Mongol ruler called Buyanquli Khan. He was assassinated in 1358 and was buried at Fathabad near Bukhara (Uzbekistan).

The domed mausoleum was completely covered with tilework on both the inside and the outside. This column was attached to the wall on one side of the entrance. A simple moulding separates the shaft, which is cylindrical, from the capital, which has two faces set at a right angle to one another. The decorators have covered the ceramic surfaces with dense and quite small-scale decoration. They carved the decoration deeply and precisely and then coloured it with white, turquoise, blue and black glazes.

The main decoration consists of dense patterns of leafy scrollwork. These are framed by bands which are either plain or set with rows of small quatrefoils. The scrollwork on the shaft of the column is overlaid by looser networks of leafy stems, glazed in contrasting colours. On the upper section of the shaft a third level of decoration separates the scrollwork and bands.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 6 parts.

  • Column Base
  • Column
  • Column
  • Column
  • Column
  • Column
Materials and techniques
Earthenware of bright yellow clay, carved and glazed
Brief description
Upper section of column from the tomb of Buyanquli Khan, Uzbekistan (Bukhara), about 1358
Physical description
Column with stylized scrolling foliage pattern in turquoise, pale green and brown, surmounted by band of different design, also of stylized scrolling foliage in turquoise, blue and white, between white paterae borders and brown bands.
Dimensions
  • Height: 129.5cm
  • Width: 30cm
  • Depth: 24.4cm
  • Weight: 47kg
Style
Gallery label
(Jameel Gallery)
Jameel Gallery

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

12 Upper Section of Column and Capital
From left side of doorway
Carved earthenware under coloured glaze
Museum nos. 567-1900; 586-1899


(Used until 11/2003)
COLUMN AND CAPITAL
Fritware with carved decoration and coloured glazes
CENTRAL ASIA (from Fathabad, near Bukhara) about 1360
This column, like the two carved friezes displayed nearby, formed part of the extensive decorations the tomb of Buyan Quli Khan.
Summary
This column once formed part of the magnificent decoration of a mausoleum. The mausoleum was built over the grave of a Mongol ruler called Buyanquli Khan. He was assassinated in 1358 and was buried at Fathabad near Bukhara (Uzbekistan).

The domed mausoleum was completely covered with tilework on both the inside and the outside. This column was attached to the wall on one side of the entrance. A simple moulding separates the shaft, which is cylindrical, from the capital, which has two faces set at a right angle to one another. The decorators have covered the ceramic surfaces with dense and quite small-scale decoration. They carved the decoration deeply and precisely and then coloured it with white, turquoise, blue and black glazes.

The main decoration consists of dense patterns of leafy scrollwork. These are framed by bands which are either plain or set with rows of small quatrefoils. The scrollwork on the shaft of the column is overlaid by looser networks of leafy stems, glazed in contrasting colours. On the upper section of the shaft a third level of decoration separates the scrollwork and bands.
Associated object
586-1899 (Set)
Bibliographic reference
Thomas W. Lentz and Glenn D. Lowry, Timur and the Princely Vision. Persian Art and Culture in the Fifteenth Century, Los Angeles: County Museum of Art, and Washington, DC: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1989, no.7A. See p.41.
Collection
Accession number
567&:1 to 5-1900

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Record createdMay 11, 2000
Record URL
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