Panel of hexagonal tiles depicting ball-and-stripe motifs
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1550-1600
Panel of hexagonal tiles, with turquoise glazing and patterning in black depicting the representation of tiger stripes, with three large dots in the centre and further smaller ones on the points of each tile.
The patterning on these tiles derive from the representation of tiger stripes (as worn in a coat by Rustam, the Iranian hero) looking like cloud bands, together with large and small spots, indicating the conventional depiction of leopard skin, but in this case they are combined with the Chinese cloud-bands in a purely ornamental way. Pairs of wavy lines and groups of three large dots represent the pelts of the striped tiger and spotted leopard.
By 1500, these designs were popular on Ottoman Turkish textiles, and were often combined. The triple-dot design has been confused with the Buddhist 'precious jewel' motif (Sanskrit cintamani ), which is sometimes shown in groups of three.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Dimensions
- Width 73 cm; Height 75 cm; Depth 5 cm; Weight 22 kg
- Materials and techniques
- Fritware painted under the glaze
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- Turkey; Syria
Identification
- Candidate id
- vam-O113293
- Museum object number
- 908 to F-1894 and 894-1897
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked single-object source. Wider type attribution and authenticity have not been independently verified.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type and source attribution against specialist references.