Tile with Pious Inscription
Ilkhanid dynasty (1256–1353), Late 13th/early 14th century
Medium
Fritware with molded decoration, painted in blue under opaque turquoise glaze
Dimensions
19.4 × 35.8 × 3.7 cm (7 5/8 × 14 1/8 × 1 7/16 in.)
Classification
earthenware
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
69143
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Bands of inscription adorn monuments throughout the Islamic world. This tile was previously part of longer architectural panel containing pious inscriptions, undoubtedly attached to a religious monument. The script used here, thuluth, is known for its elongated horizontal extensions at the ends of letters. The thuluth script first emerged in the 11th century and has remained one of the most popular forms of calligraphy.
About the Artist
Islamic
Islamic art, a profound visual tradition originating in the 7th century CE, flourished across vast territories from Spain to India under Muslim rule, encompassing architecture, ceramics, manuscripts, textiles, and metalwork produced by diverse artisans rather than a single named master. Drawing from pre-Islamic Sasanian, Byzantine, and late antique influences, its early development under the Umayy...