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Tile

Title	Tile
Author	Unknown
Publication Date:	1450
Publication Place	Ispahan (made) -
Subject	Lotus Flowers
Type	Other
Language	Undetermined
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Physical Dimensions	Height: 34.5cm, Width: 44.3cm
Library:	Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID	728B-1888
Record ID	728B-1888
Library Location	Middle East Section
Date	1450
Notes	The pattern incorporates stylised lotus flowers. This motif of Chinese origin became popular in the Middle East after the Mongol conquest of Iran in 1256â8. The design was assembled from small pieces of tile cut to shape, a technique known as tile mosaic. Each tile was glazed in one of six different colours.
Tarihsel bağlam	Tile mosaic was used extensively in Timurid architecture from the late 14th century, and well into the 16th century. Its use also continued under the Safavids (1501-1732). After the Safavid capital moved to Isfahan in 1599 (under the instigation of Shah Abbas I), there was a greater use of the speedier cuerda seca technique, because Shah Abbas was impatient to see his many building projects built. The Shaykh Lutfullah mosque in Isfahan (built 1602) employs both techniques.
Malzemeler ve teknikler	Glazed earthenware cut to shape and embedded in a plaster matrix
Fiziksel açıklama	Section of a tile mosaic design, in which glazed tiles were cut to shape and assembled to form a pattern. It has a cobalt blue background with intricate floral design in various colours. A lighter blue border remains on part of the tile. Several pieces of tile have fallen out.
Üslup	Safavid

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Victoria and Albert Museum

Tile

Author Unknown

Publication Date 1450

Publication Place Ispahan (made) -

Subject Lotus Flowers

Type Other

Language Undetermined

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Physical Dimensions Height: 34.5cm, Width: 44.3cm

Library Victoria and Albert Museum

Library Asset ID 728B-1888

Record ID 728B-1888

Library Location Middle East Section

Date 1450

Notes The pattern incorporates stylised lotus flowers. This motif of Chinese origin became popular in the Middle East after the Mongol conquest of Iran in 1256â8. The design was assembled from small pieces of tile cut to shape, a technique known as tile mosaic. Each tile was glazed in one of six different colours.

Tarihsel bağlam Tile mosaic was used extensively in Timurid architecture from the late 14th century, and well into the 16th century. Its use also continued under the Safavids (1501-1732). After the Safavid capital moved to Isfahan in 1599 (under the instigation of Shah Abbas I), there was a greater use of the speedier cuerda seca technique, because Shah Abbas was impatient to see his many building projects built. The Shaykh Lutfullah mosque in Isfahan (built 1602) employs both techniques.

Malzemeler ve teknikler Glazed earthenware cut to shape and embedded in a plaster matrix

Fiziksel açıklama Section of a tile mosaic design, in which glazed tiles were cut to shape and assembled to form a pattern. It has a cobalt blue background with intricate floral design in various colours. A lighter blue border remains on part of the tile. Several pieces of tile have fallen out.

Üslup Safavid