Tile

Art Historical Context

This star-shaped tile presents an eight-pointed form with a central field of delicate floral and vine motifs rendered in soft browns, creams, and muted blues. A border of flowing Arabic calligraphy frames the design, while the surface shows the subtle sheen and fine cracks typical of its stonepaste material. A small turquoise spot near the center draws the eye amid the intricate patterns. Created in the early fourteenth century by an unknown artist, the tile was made using the underglaze-painted technique on stonepaste, a method that allowed colors to remain vibrant after firing. Such works belong to the rich tradition of Islamic ceramics, where tiles often adorned architectural surfaces in mosques, palaces, and tombs. Now in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the Grinnell Collection, this piece offers visitors a glimpse into the refined craftsmanship and artistic sensibilities of its time.