A KUBACHI FIGURAL POTTERY TILE OF A PERSIAN YOUTH WITH A DRINKING CUP
Safavid Iran, 17th - 18th century

Of square shape, painted in cobalt blue, ochre, copper green, red and black on a cream ground, depicting a bust portrait of a courtly youth with a blue brocaded robe and long earring holding a turquoise green wine cup, flanked by floral blooms, set within a yellow-painted lobed floral medallion against a cobalt blue ground with rosette decors on each corner, 16.5cm x 16.5cm.

The term Kubachi, usually attributed to these folkish pottery creations with colourful figures, comes from a remote Daghestani village where many examples of tiles and wares similar to these two were found. Such pottery items were used to decorate villagers’ houses towards the end of the 19th century.