Mosaic Spandrels of an Arch

This mosaic was created to decorate an arched entrance portal, known as an iwan, similar to the one shown in the photograph. It dates to the reign of Shah Abbas I (r. 1587–1629), who moved the capital of his Safavid kingdom to Isfahan in central Iran. After the move, Abbas began a massive urban planning project, creating a new city center and constructing new and renovating old buildings. The style of decoration of this mosaic is characteristic of this period, and would have been adorn a grand entranceway in the Shah’s new city.

During the 14th century, Iranian artists perfected the technique of creating ceramic mosaics. Mosaics were labor-intensive but allowed artists to create finely detailed designs in multiple colors. To create mosaics, potters would manufacture large tiles in a variety of glazes and colors. These were cut into small pieces and laid over a cartoon (a drawn pattern for the larger design). Then, plaster was poured on the back to affix the mosaic to a backing. The mosaic was then cut into sections and hung onto a wall.