A TURQUOISE AND BLUE MULTAN POTTERY ARCHITECTURAL TILE WITH 'YA ALLAH'
Multan, Sindh, Punjab, late 19th - early 20th century

Of square shape, painted in turquoise and cobalt blue against a white slip ground covering a reddish earthenware body, with a central eight-pointed stellar cartouche inscribed with 'Ya Allah' (Oh Allah!) in bold naskh script, the outer band corners decorated with stylised lotus flowers and swirling tendrils and leaves, the reverse plain and marked with semi-circular indentations, 30cm x 30cm.

Multan pottery tiles are found mainly on the walls of mosques, mausoleums, and shrines in Sindh and Punjab, Pakistan. It is likely that this tile was originally used in a building facade, perhaps as a series of tiles adorning a wall.