Tile, earthenware, Iran, 1850-1870
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1850-1870
Tile, central design of rose bouquet on white ground within yellow-outlined quatrefoil, with quarter-designs in the corners (forming smaller quatrefoils when tile are laid together in a repeat pattern) and half-designs on dark blue on all four sides This colourful tile was bought in Tehran in 1876, for the South Kensington Museum (today the V&A).
The Museum's agent Robert Murdoch Smith purchased a large collection of 154 "modern tiles", from the art-dealer Jules Richard, and described the group as "a collection of upwards of 100 modern tiles of different patterns such as are used for decorating walls and floors at the present day" (V&A Archives, 9 July 1875).
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.
Historical context
Jules Richard had organised the tiles in 25 groups, of matching or mixed sets, showing the wonderful stylistic range of Qajar interior architecture: these range from geometric patterns, trellis repeats, landscape vignettes, architectonic compositions, bouquets of roses, Chinese famille rose porcelain styles, and even imitations of silk ikat pattern.
In 1951, seven of the tiles were transferred to the Potteries Museum in Stoke-on-Trent.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Buff-coloured earthenware, tin-opacified white slip, painted in yellow, blue, pink, green and black, glazed
- Dimensions
- Length: 47.4 cm; Width: 47.5 cm; Depth: 4.3 cm
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- Iran, Shiraz
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London collection record for this single object (sentences kept verbatim apart from removed sale or rarity wording); how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Candidate id
- vam-O1264674
- Museum object name
- Tile
- Holding institution
- Victoria and Albert Museum, London
- Museum object number
- 1531:115-1876
- Museum system number
- O1264674
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, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.