A DAMASCUS CALLIGRAPHIC POTTERY TILE
Damascus, Ottoman Syria, 17th - 18th century

Of square shape, underglaze-painted in cobalt blue, green, purple and turquoise, with black outlines, all against a white background, the decoration consisting of a fragment of a naskh calligraphic band set amongst vegetal scrolls, below it a frieze of lotus stems with small serrated leaves and a solid turquoise band, 23.4cm x 23.2cm.