Tile Panel
Unknown Artist
late 18th–early 19th century
Medium
Stonepaste; painted and glazed
Dimensions
L. in frame: 80 11/16 in. (205 cm) L. of base: 89 1/2 in. (227.3 cm) Gr. H. 52 9/16 in. (133.5 cm) Overall Wt. in Frame: 159 lbs. (72.1kg) Individual tiles about 7 11/16 in. sq. (19.5 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Tiles
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Lewis Balamuth, 1968
Accession Number
68.215.31
Tags
Art Historical Context
This stunning Tile Panel, created by an unknown artist in the late 18th to early 19th century exemplifies the exquisite ceramic artistry of the Islamic world. Crafted from stonepaste—a composite material of quartz, clay, and frit that allowed for thin, durable tiles with a brilliant white body—the panel features hand-painted designs under a glossy glaze. Composed of individual squares measuring about 7¾ inches each, it forms a grand architectural element, originally likely adorning the walls of a mosque, palace, or public bathhouse in regions like Persia (modern Iran) or the Ottoman Empire. T...