Tile with Inscription

The application of copper to alkaline glaze in the 12^th century revolutionized Persian ceramics by producing a distinctive turquoise blue glaze. This vivid color became a hallmark of Islamic ceramics and was used for centuries in the decoration domestic wares and in the embellishment of buildings with architectural tiles.

This molded architectural tile bears a fragmentary calligraphic inscription and vegetal decoration.  It would have belonged to a continuous frieze of tiles that carried inscriptions across the surface of a wall or doorway.  These tile inscriptions were often based upon passages from the Qur’an when used on religious structures.