A QAJAR MOULDED POLYCHROME-PAINTED POTTERY TILE WITH KNEELING PRINCES
Iran, 19th century

Of rectangular shape, finely painted in cobalt blue, manganese purple, and turquoise with black outline on a white ground, depicting five kneeling princes, set against a landscape featuring flowering plants, vegetation, hills and swirling clouds in the distance, four birds in flight above the seated princes, the upper border featuring intertwined vegetal sprays with serrated leaves, 25.5cm x 29.5cm.

Qajar tiles like this one decorated interior and exterior walls of both sacred and secular buildings in Iran. Such tiles were produced mainly in Tehran, the Qajar capital, although Isfahan and Shiraz were also renowned centres of production.