Square Tile Showing a Lion with Foliated Tail

Unknown

second half 12th–early 13th century · Earthenware; molded, slipped, and glazed · Islamic Art

This tile belongs to a series found in Ghazni, the capital of the Ghaznavid dynasty (977–1186), in a house destroyed during the Mongol invasion of 1221. Most of the tiles in the series are square, some are polygonal, and are molded in relief with animals, plants, or occasionally inscriptions. Even though these tiles are unique in style, their decoration shows affinities with classical pre-Islamic motifs from Iran, such as the "pearl" borders and the animals in profile within a frame.

Artist

Unknown

Date

second half 12th–early 13th century

Medium

Earthenware; molded, slipped, and glazed

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Marjorie Schwarz, in memory of Herbert F. and Dorothy C. Schwarz, 1975