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2. GRAPES AND FLORAL SPRAYS Iran (Safavid) 17th century Height: 24 cm Width: 24 cm |
A tile in the cuerda seca technique with a polychrome design depicting a scrolling floral border framing bunches of grapes, vines and luxuriant floral sprays to the right, all painted in shades of cobalt blue, yellow, vibrant green, turquoise, lilac, rose pink and ochre against a white ground. The wide vertical cobalt border to the left of the tile is framed to either side by thinner strips of dark ochre. It contains a continuous arabesque of white vines further embellished with central yellow trefoil palmettes and white split-leaf palmettes. The main field to the right contains a chaotic scene featuring a large ochre grape vine from which sprout bunches of grapes in colours of yellow, turquoise, ochre and lilac. The fruits are surrounded by large rich green vine leaves and further stylised sprays of differing flowers which curve in from the lower left, dissecting the vine as they fill the remaining ground. The tile magnificently conveys through its harmonious colours, an understanding of the delicate balance of nature as the glorious flowers and luscious fruit compete for space and our attention, evoking the sunny corner of a paradisiacal garden. This tile would have formed part of the border of a much larger panel and is particularly uncommon; not only due to its white ground but also the particularly fine drawing and use of a more unusual palette including lilac and pink. |