Star-Shaped Tile

Unknown

13th–14th century · Stonepaste; inglaze painted in blue and turquoise and luster-painted on opaque white glaze · Islamic Art

This eight-pointed star tile was once part of a panel of star- and cross-shaped tiles adorning the walls of an Ilkhanid building. The central plant, surrounded by abstract vegetal forms that extend fully into each point of the star, was produced in a time-consuming and elaborate process in which copper luster was applied to the tile after its initial firing of blue, turquoise, and white glazes. The text running along the border consists of verses of Persian poetry.

Artist

Unknown

Date

13th–14th century

Medium

Stonepaste; inglaze painted in blue and turquoise and luster-painted on opaque white glaze

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

H.O. Havemeyer Collection, Gift of Horace Havemeyer, 1941