Tile from a Mihrab
Unknown Artist
dated A.H. 722/ 1322–23 CE
Medium
Stonepaste; modeled, painted under transparent glaze
Dimensions
H. 27 3/8 in. (69.5 cm) W. 26 in. (66 cm) Wt. 74 lbs. (33.6 kg)
Classification
Ceramics-Tiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William Mandel, 1983
Accession Number
1983.345
Tags
Art Historical Context
This stunning tile, hailing from a *mihrab*—the sacred prayer niche in a mosque that points toward Mecca—dates to A.H. 722 (1322–23 CE), a golden age of Islamic art under the Ilkhanid dynasty in Persia. Crafted by an unknown artist it exemplifies the architectural splendor of medieval mosques, where vibrant tiles adorned walls to inspire devotion and awe. Measuring over two feet square and weighing a hefty 74 pounds, piece was likely part of a larger mosaic, its monumental scale underscoring the grandeur of religious spaces. Made of stonepaste (a fine fritware body prized for its white color ...