Tile with Shahada

Public Domain

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CultureDamascus

Titles

Tile with Shahada

Date16th century

MediumStonepaste; polychrome-painted under a transparent glaze

Dimensions10 5/8 × 10 1/2 × 7/8 in. (27 × 26.7 × 2.2 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the 2013 Art of the Islamic Worlds Gala

Object number2013.64

Current Location

The Caroline Wiess Law Building

113 Islamic Art Gallery

On view

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Department

Art of the Islamic Worlds

Object Type

CERAMICS

DescriptionThis circular Ottoman tile highlights the continuation of the Mamluk ceramic tradition under Ottoman rule starting in the 16th century. Tiles were often used to commemorate the construction of buildings and city landmarks. The inscription is the shahada, which states: “La ilaha illallah wa Muhammad rasul Allah” (There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah). This affirmation of faith declares belief in the oneness of God and acceptance of Muhammad as his prophet.
Provenance[Sotheby’s, London, April 25, 2012, sale L12220, lot 457]; Daniel Katz Family Trust, London; purchased by MFAH, 2013.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Inscribed in thuluth script: Shahada "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his Prophet, and 'Ali is His companion"

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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