Square Tile

Unknown

late 12th–early 13th century · Earthenware; molded and monochrome glazed · Islamic Art

This tile belong 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. Although 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

late 12th–early 13th century

Medium

Earthenware; molded and monochrome glazed

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

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