Islamic tile - Ceramic - Morocco - 14th-15th century
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Selected by Surya Rutten
Has over 25 years' experience in Asian art and owned an art gallery.
Estimate € 200 - € 250
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Islamic tile from Morocco, titled Islamic tile, dating to the 14th–15th century Merinid period, made of ceramic with a 10×10 cm face and 2.2 cm thickness, in good condition.
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Description from the seller
Tiles with Inscription Zillig, Thuluth.
Merinid period Fez, 14th-15th century.
With the cuerda seca enamel-excision technique.
Size 10×10 cm with a thickness of 2.2 cm, necessary for firing of antique tiles.
Very characteristic green of this period.
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The intertwined Arabic calligraphy on this tile contains a classical blessing formula from the Hispano-Muslim and Maghrebi medieval era: «اليمن والإقبال» (transliterated as «Al-yumn wa al-iqbāl»).
The literal translation and its meaning are:
«Good fortune and prosperity» (or also: «Joy and ongoing success»).
Details of the inscription and style
Reading of the text: At the top the word Yumn (يمن) is clearly legible, meaning blessing or good fortune, while the letters at the bottom are intertwined to form Iqbāl (إقبال), referring to prosperity, the future, or success.
Calligraphic style: It is executed in an elegant cursive style (Maghrebi cursive or nasjí adapted to architectural epigraphy), characteristic of the art of the Merinid dynasties (Benimerín) in Morocco and contemporary to that of their Nasrid allies in the Alhambra of Granada.
Architectural context: This type of square tiles formed part of continuous epigraphic friezes or zellij boards (cut mosaic) that decorated the walls of madrasas, palaces and mosques in cities such as Fez, Meknes or Marrakech. The repetition of words like "good fortune", "health" or "prosperity" served both aesthetic and protective (baraka) functions.
Historical value of the piece
Provenance adds extraordinary documentary value to the piece. Don José María de Murga y Mugartegui (historically known as "El Moro Vizcaíno"), a military man and renowned Basque traveler, indeed made his first major trip through northern Morocco between 1863 and 1866 disguised as a pilgrim and under the name Hach Mohamed el Bagdadi.
The 10×10 cm dimensions and its substantial thickness of 2.2 cm are fully consistent with solid medieval North African handmade tiling, made to withstand lime mortar on the walls.
If you wish, we can analyze further:
The history or anecdotes of José María de Murga’s travels in Morocco.
The visual comparison of this tile with the Merinid madrasas’ friezes in Fez.
Journey into Spain's Islamic Past: Explore our Granada Collection ...
16 Sept 2023 — Journey into Spain's Islamic Past: Explore our Granada Collection, inspired by the 'Alhambra Vases' from the 14th century and adorned with the script 'al-yumn'
Tiles with Inscription Zillig, Thuluth.
Merinid period Fez, 14th-15th century.
With the cuerda seca enamel-excision technique.
Size 10×10 cm with a thickness of 2.2 cm, necessary for firing of antique tiles.
Very characteristic green of this period.
I proceed to send data provided by AI about the tile.
AI mode
All
Products
Visual matches
1 site
The intertwined Arabic calligraphy on this tile contains a classical blessing formula from the Hispano-Muslim and Maghrebi medieval era: «اليمن والإقبال» (transliterated as «Al-yumn wa al-iqbāl»).
The literal translation and its meaning are:
«Good fortune and prosperity» (or also: «Joy and ongoing success»).
Details of the inscription and style
Reading of the text: At the top the word Yumn (يمن) is clearly legible, meaning blessing or good fortune, while the letters at the bottom are intertwined to form Iqbāl (إقبال), referring to prosperity, the future, or success.
Calligraphic style: It is executed in an elegant cursive style (Maghrebi cursive or nasjí adapted to architectural epigraphy), characteristic of the art of the Merinid dynasties (Benimerín) in Morocco and contemporary to that of their Nasrid allies in the Alhambra of Granada.
Architectural context: This type of square tiles formed part of continuous epigraphic friezes or zellij boards (cut mosaic) that decorated the walls of madrasas, palaces and mosques in cities such as Fez, Meknes or Marrakech. The repetition of words like "good fortune", "health" or "prosperity" served both aesthetic and protective (baraka) functions.
Historical value of the piece
Provenance adds extraordinary documentary value to the piece. Don José María de Murga y Mugartegui (historically known as "El Moro Vizcaíno"), a military man and renowned Basque traveler, indeed made his first major trip through northern Morocco between 1863 and 1866 disguised as a pilgrim and under the name Hach Mohamed el Bagdadi.
The 10×10 cm dimensions and its substantial thickness of 2.2 cm are fully consistent with solid medieval North African handmade tiling, made to withstand lime mortar on the walls.
If you wish, we can analyze further:
The history or anecdotes of José María de Murga’s travels in Morocco.
The visual comparison of this tile with the Merinid madrasas’ friezes in Fez.
Journey into Spain's Islamic Past: Explore our Granada Collection ...
16 Sept 2023 — Journey into Spain's Islamic Past: Explore our Granada Collection, inspired by the 'Alhambra Vases' from the 14th century and adorned with the script 'al-yumn'
Details
Dynastic Style/Period
14th-15th century
Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
Morocco
Material
Ceramic
Height
10 cm
Width
10 cm
Title of artwork
Islamic tile
Depth
2.2 cm
Condition
Good condition
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