FOUR TIMURID BLUE AND WHITE POTTERY HEXAGONAL TILES
Iran, 15th century

Comprising four small hexagonal pottery tiles, painted in cobalt blue on a white ground, each one featuring an analogous decorative pattern with a central rosette surrounded by concentric bands of stylised foliate tendrils, the largest 12cm at the widest points.

Two hexagonal tiles identical to ours were once part of Pierre Le-Tan's collection, and sold at Sotheby's Paris, 16 March 2021, lot 129. These small hexagonal tiles share a degree of affinity in terms of decorative pattern and design with a group of black-painted and green-glazed tiles associated with the tomb chamber of the Masjid-i Shah (‘the king’s mosque’) at Mashhad in eastern Iran. Erected in 1416 - 18, the mosque was commissioned by Gawharshad, wife of the Timurid ruler Shahrukh (r. 1405 - 47) and one of Herat’s greatest architectural patrons.