TWO SMALL KUBACHI FIGURAL POTTERY TILES
Safavid Iran, 17th century

Each of square shape, painted in cobalt blue, ochre, copper green, red and black on a cream ground, figural decoration set within lobed rosette-shaped medallions, one featuring a male youth wearing an ornate dome-shaped headdress and holding a wine cup; second featuring a green-clad maiden wearing a choker with red and yellow beads, the same colour scheme repeated in her headband, both surrounded by vegetation and floral designs, the outer corners of one tile with cobalt blue designs, the largest 16.5cm x 16.5cm.

The term Kubachi, usually attributed to these folkish pottery creations with colourful figures, comes from a remote Daghestani village where many examples of tiles and wares similar to these two were found. Such pottery items were used to decorate villagers’ houses towards the end of the 19th century.