Square Tile

Art Historical Context

This square tile displays a central lobed medallion enclosing a stylized floral motif rendered in cobalt blue and turquoise. The design sits on a creamy white ground marked by fine crackling in the glaze, while a teal border frames the composition with irregular, cloud-like edges. Chips along the perimeter reveal the underlying brownish stonepaste body, highlighting the object’s age and use. Created in the 14th century by an unknown artist, the tile belongs to the rich tradition of Islamic ceramics. Its stonepaste body and polychrome decoration painted under a transparent glaze were typical of architectural tiles produced for walls and interiors across the Islamic world. Such works combined geometric and vegetal forms to create luminous, durable surfaces that enriched both sacred and secular spaces. Acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art through the Rogers Fund in 1937, this example offers visitors a tangible glimpse into the technical skill and aesthetic refinement of medieval Islamic tilework.