A Bright & Bold Iranian Tile
In the Iranian world, the use of tiles in architectural decoration dates back to pre-Islamic times. Decorated with a range of techniques including underglaze and overglaze painting, tiles had practical, aesthetic and cultural importance - tile coverings spoke about a building’s function as much as about the social status, wealth and aspirations of its owners or visitors.⠀ ⠀ These details comes from a panel decorated with the 'cuerda seca' technique. It can be dated to the mid-17th century when elaborate tile compositions were made to decorate garden pavilions and palaces in Iran, especially in Isfahan, then capital of the Safavid empire (1501-1736). Scenes of garden entertainment and hunting provide a window on the luxurious lifestyles of early modern Iran.⠀ Swipe through to see some of our favourite details from the set of forty-eight tiles, as well as the full artwork.
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