Ashmolean Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

While providing a protective barrier to otherwise perishable brick constructions, tile revetments can also tell us about the social status and aspirations of the patron behind the building. This example, originally part of a large frieze of tiles, is datable to the Qajar period (1785-1925), a time when covering buildings with extensive tiles decorated with traditional literary cycles and courtly themes was in great fashion. Its subject - a hunter with falcon - and quality suggest that it was probably intended for the residence of a wealthy citizen.