A LARGE KASHAN MONOCHROME TURQUOISE-GLAZED POTTERY MIHRAB TILE
Kashan, Iran, 12th - 13th century

Of rectangular shape, moulded in relief with a pointed arch in the centre decorated with intricate vegetal interlace and supported by thin columns with baluster-like capitals, below the archway a three-lobed niche containing a globular vase or mosque lamp issuing a floral spray, the spandrels at the top featuring stylised figural motifs of pouncing animals, the border with a continuous epigraphic band in naskh script, an old inventory label reading Rahimi collection 53 New York on the reverse, 68cm x 46cm.

Provenance: Acquired by the grandparents of the present vendor from A. Khan Rahimi, a noted collector of Persian art in Boston and New York, in the late 1930s and 1940s and in the same family by descent.

Inscription: Qur'an, Sura 112 (Al-Ikhlas)

In Iran, moulded monochrome mihrab tiles of this shape and style started appearing under the Seljuks in the 12th century. They soon became quite popular. From the 13th century onwards, having survived the Mongol invasion, these tiles usually decorated the walls of mausolea and shrines. The lamp at the centre of the architectural niche acted as a visual reference to the Light Verse in the Qur'an (24:35), commonly inscribed on actual mosque lamps, inferring the sanctity of the donor or place to whom / which the tile is connected. Another large monochrome mihrab tile dated 1200 recently sold at auction in London (Christie's London, 25 June 2020, lot 2). For a large Ilkhanid example inscribed with naskh script like the present lot, please see Kjeld von Folsach, Art from the World of Islam in The David Collection, 2001, cat. 209, p. 167.