Tile with calligraphy

Made during the peak of Kashan tile production, this tile is decorated with bold calligraphy and dynamic designs. The soft, rounded forms of the floral arabesques of its background show the developing Chinese influence.

The decorative style of the calligraphy may link this tile to a group of tiles found in major museums throughout the world. It has been suggested that these once decorated the tomb of ‘Abd al-Samad, a religious mystic who died in 1299. These tiles were part of the mihrab, a niche placed in the wall to mark the direction of Mecca, toward which prayer is oriented.

Only a small section of the inscription remains here. Perhaps from the Qur’an, it reads: In heaven you will have . . .