Mihrab tile, molded fritware
Iran, Kashan; 13th century
H: 50.5; W: 32 cm
Inventory number 3/1963
A mihrab, or prayer niche, is a special decorative element that denotes the direction of prayer in mosques the world over. The mihrab can take many forms. In small mosques, it often consists of a niche-shaped relief in one or more tiles, usually richly decorated with religious inscriptions and vegetal ornamentation. Larger mosques generally have a niche proper built into the wall.
This Il-Khanid mihrab tile features not one but two niches in relief. As is often the case, the niches contain a lamp. Lamps like these are believed to refer to the Koran’s famous “Light Verse,” Ayat al-Nur:
“God is the Light / of the heavens and the earth. / The parable of His Light / Is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: / The Lamp enclosed in Glass: / The glass as it were / A brilliant star: / Lit from a blessed Tree, / An Olive, neither of the East / Nor of the West, / Whose Oil is well-nigh / Luminous, / Though fire scarce touched it: / Light upon Light! / God doth guide / Whom He will To His Light: / God doth set forth Parables / For men: and God / Doth know all things.”
(Sura 24, verse 35)
This Il-Khanid mihrab tile features not one but two niches in relief. As is often the case, the niches contain a lamp. Lamps like these are believed to refer to the Koran’s famous “Light Verse,” Ayat al-Nur:
“God is the Light / of the heavens and the earth. / The parable of His Light / Is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: / The Lamp enclosed in Glass: / The glass as it were / A brilliant star: / Lit from a blessed Tree, / An Olive, neither of the East / Nor of the West, / Whose Oil is well-nigh / Luminous, / Though fire scarce touched it: / Light upon Light! / God doth guide / Whom He will To His Light: / God doth set forth Parables / For men: and God / Doth know all things.”
(Sura 24, verse 35)
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