A large Kashan lustre pottery frieze tile Iran, circa 1300

of square form, moulded in relief with an opacified tin glaze enhanced with copper green and cobalt blue over-decorated in lustre with a monumental inscription in naskh against a ground of leaves and scrolls, raised arabesque border above, a minor band below
38 by 35cm.

inscriptions
Parts of an inscription in Persian:
be-goftar-e payghambarat
'According to the saying of the Prophet'

Condition Report:
Broken and restored with some associated overpainting, some rubbing and subsequent fading to part of enamelled decoration on surface, areas of bright lustre, as viewed.

Catalogue Note:
This large tile was once part of a monumental frieze. The surface is decorated with three different registers and relates to a series of tiles made for the tomb of Shaykh Abd al-Samad at Natanz, Iran, including one in the Victoria and Albert Museum dated Shawwal 707 AH/ March 1308 AD (inv. no.1485-1876). A close comparable was sold at Christie's, 5 October 2010, lot 114.

Provenance:
Sotheby's, London, 24 October 2007, lot 125