Bidspirit auction | A LARGE ILKHANID STYLE LUSTRE-PAINTED

A LARGE ILKHANID STYLE LUSTRE-PAINTED FRITWARE MIHRAB TILE PANEL, CENTRAL IRAN, KASHAN. - An architectural mihrab panel composed of six rectangular fritware (stonepaste) tiles joined to form a monumental unit. The decoration is executed in moulded relief with underglaze cobalt blue and turquoise glazes, further enhanced by extensive overglaze lustre painting in a golden-brown tone. The central field contains a series of horizontal bands featuring Quranic inscriptions in raised cobalt blue Thuluth script, set against a ground of dense scrolling vegetal motifs and foliage in lustre. The inner niche is defined by an arch with turquoise-glazed mouldings, with the spandrels and upper sections filled with intricate moulded scrolling arabesques and trilobed leaves highlighted in turquoise. A wide border frames the central field, containing a continuous Quranic inscription, likely the Ayat al-Kursi (Throne Verse), in bold, moulded cobalt blue Thuluth script. The outermost band contains a secondary inscription in a fine Naskh script executed in lustre painting. The background features the characteristic ring-and-dot and scrolling vine patterns associated with the master workshops of Kashan. The characters for Bismillah (In the name of Allah) are visible at the start of the inscription in the lower right-hand corner, with common Islamic declarations of faith such as La ilaha illa Allah (There is no god but Allah) appearing in the border script. Approximately 127.5 x 55.5cm