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Star-Shaped Tile with Phoenix

A work made of lusterware, luster-painted fritware with molded decoration.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of lusterware, luster-painted fritware with molded decoration.

Date:

Ilkhanid dynasty (1256–1353), Late 13th century

Artist:

Iran
Probably Takht-i Sulayman

About this artwork

Phoenixes were common motifs of Ilkhanid ceramics and regularly featured on eight-pointed star tiles. This tile features a phoenix with outstretched wings and a sweeping tail reserved against a luster ground. This tile’s decoration is similar to tiles depicting phoenixes made for the Ilkhanid palace known as Takht-i Sulaiman, which was constructed in the 1270s. While the exact provenance of this tile is uncertain, the use of such designs at Takht-i Sulaiman provides an approximate date for this piece. Modern-day excavations of Takht-i Sulaiman have revealed thousands of tile fragments, which were once used as lavish ornamentation for palace walls that must have gleamed when light reflected their brilliant luster.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Asia

Culture

Islamic

Title

Star-Shaped Tile with Phoenix

Place

Iran (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1250–1290

Medium

Lusterware, luster-painted fritware with molded decoration

Dimensions

21.2 × 21.8 × 1.2 cm (8 5/16 × 8 9/16 × 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Lucy Maud Buckingham Collection

Reference Number

1926.2175

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/92287/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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