Thinker's diamond

Thinker's diamond

Iran, Safavid art, 17th century

Square wall tile with "cuerda ceca" enameled decoration on an intense blue background. It features a figure dressed in European style, putting his finger to his mouth in a questioning manner in the shade of a blossoming branch. Small chips on the sides. 21, 8 x 24 cm Two fragments from the same series: 15 x 11cm and 10.5 x 5 cm. Provenance : Jean-Charles Tauzin Collection (1889-1957). This tile is typical of the cuerda seca technique. It depicts a charming drawing of a turbaned courtier with such pictorial refinement that it manages to delicately reproduce the courtier's full reflection in a gesture of wonder and amazement; the sustained attention with which the courtier ponders his philosophical question or romantic enigma lends the image an enigmatic lyrical quality. According to Sophie Makariou, this group of 17th-century Safavid figurative tiles can be attributed with certainty to the hand of the Safavid tile-maker known as the "Master of Figures", or to his workshop. These cuerda seca tiles are the finest group of Safavid tiles, combining strong, confident contours with bold, imaginative compositions and brilliant, seamlessly applied colors. For tiles from the same group, see Simon Ray, 2015, no. 8; Bonhams sale, London, Islamic and Indian Art including Sikh Treasures and Arts of the Punjab, October 18, 2018, no. 42; Italy, Turin, Mazzonis Palace - Museum of Oriental Art. A Safavid Cuerda Seca tile, Iran, 17th century