Tile from a Frieze

Unknown

first half 13th century · Stonepaste; overglaze painted (so-called mina'i) · Islamic Art

The broken character of the calligraphic decoration on this tile implies that it was once part of a frieze decoration. The Arabic inscription (lannahum ajma'ina) is probably from the fifteenth sura of the Qur'an, "The Rock" (15:92): "So by your Lord, we would [most certainly ques]tion them all." The religious nature of the inscription suggests that the tile frieze was placed in a religious context, most likely surrounding the mihrab in a mosque.

Artist

Unknown

Date

first half 13th century

Medium

Stonepaste; overglaze painted (so-called mina'i)

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1911