Pair of Qajar Folk Art Polychrome Ceramic Tiles With Equestrian Falconers

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Pair of Qajar Polychrome Tiles with Equestrian Falconers
Persia, Late 19th / Early 20th Century CE
Dimensions: Each tile measures … Read more Pair of Qajar Polychrome Tiles with Equestrian Falconers
Persia, Late 19th / Early 20th Century CE
Dimensions: Each tile measures 8” H (20.3 cm) x 5.4” W (13.7 cm)
Condition: Excellent antique condition with minor, stable surface wear consistent with age. The characteristic crackle glaze (*craquelure*) is intact and well-settled. No significant restoration.

Description:

This finely crafted pair of tiles exemplifies the vibrant artistic production of Persia's Qajar era (1789-1925). Each tile features a bas-relief design depicting a noble falconer on a spirited horse, a popular motif symbolizing royalty, sport, and prestige.

The scenes are rendered in the distinctive Qajar palette, utilizing mineral-based pigments to create rich colors that have matured gracefully over time. The surface exhibits a desirable and intentional network of fine crackling (*craquelure*) within the glaze, a result of the firing process and now a testament to its age.

Historical Context: Qajar Tilework

Following the Safavid dynasty's decline, the Qajar period witnessed a magnificent revival in architectural decoration and ceramic arts. Tiles transformed from the predominantly blue-and-white schemes of earlier periods to embrace a new, bold polychromy. Artists incorporated shades of pink, yellow, green, and black, often outlined in black, to create figures with pronounced volume and expressive detail.

These tiles were not merely functional; they were narrative. They adorned the walls of palaces, royal pavilions, and the homes of the elite, depicting courtly life, literary heroes from the *Shahnameh* (Book of Kings), religious themes, and symbolic figures like these falconers. The bas-relief technique added a dynamic, sculptural quality to interior spaces, catching the light and deepening the visual narrative. This pair represents a superb example of this secular, figurative tradition, offering a vivid window into the aesthetic sensibilities of 19th-century Persia. See less