Tile, Kashmir, 1640-1650
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1640-1650
Tile in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number CIRC.1289-1923), made in Kashmir, dated 1640-1650. The museum's brief description reads: Architecture, glazed ceramic, probably Kashmir, ca.
1640-1650. Museum description: A tile from a group of 8 tiles which were part of a larger decorative panel. This tile is similar to one other in the collection with half a vase on the right-hand side and part of a spray of flowers on the left half. The panel comprised an alternating pattern covering four tiles of similar baluster-shaped vases in orange with a decorative scrolling pattern in grey. Alternate different bunches of flowers rise out of these vases.
The flowers include irises, roses, tulips among other types in manganese purple, orange, white and grey, all on a yellow ground. The museum records it as Earthenware and cuerda seca decoration, measuring Height 21.2 cm; Width 20.1 cm; Depth 2.4 cm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
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
This glazed earthenware Mughal tile is one of a group acquired in 1923 from Mr Frederick H. Andrews. He had been living in Srinagar as Director of the Technical Institute of Kashmir and wrote to the museum in 1922 offering to sell his collection before he left that year to return to the UK. The tiles are stated to have come from the tomb of Madani (ie Sayyed Muhammad al-Madini) near But Kadal in Srinagar, Kashmir. The building dates from the mid-fifteenth century, but a new gateway to the tomb and adjacent mosque was constructed by order of Shah Jahan, probably in about 1640. The gateway was originally covered with glazed tiles. The gateway was already in ruined condition in 1907 when it was surveyed by the Archaeological Survey of India, with relatively few of the tiles in place.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Earthenware (red), enamel paint
- Dimensions
- Height 21.2 cm; Width 20.1 cm; Depth 2.4 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Earthenware and cuerda seca decoration
- Place recorded
- Kashmir
Identification
- Museum object name
- Tile
- Museum object number
- CIRC.1289-1923
- Museum system number
- O430430
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 catalogue references against a specialist reference.