Carnation Sprays and Butterflies

Iran (Safavid), 17th century

Height: 25.5 cm
Width: 23.5 cm

A polychrome tile in the cuerda seca technique in shades of cobalt blue, yellow, ochre, green, turquoise and dark brown against a white ground and with an asymmetrical design of carnations surrounded by butterflies and further floral sprays.

The group of three large carnations rises from the bottom of the tile. Each flower has seven spikey cobalt blue petals which emerge from a lime green and turquoise calyx. The flowers are supported on thin blue stems, each with a pair of slim tapering leaves. The trio of sprays appear from bifurcated serrated leaves below, painted in yellow, ochre, green and cobalt blue. Framing the central flowers to each side of the tile are stylised multi-coloured rosettes above pairs of smaller bifurcated serrated leaves which emerge from single dark brown, yellow and turquoise rocks below. Further leaves can be seen to the top corners of the tile. Filling the remaining ground are a pair of confronted stylised butterflies, with yellow and green bodies and dark manganese purple wings which hover around the carnation sprays.

This tile would have formed part of a larger landscape scene and is slightly rarer due to the design being painted on a white ground which is seen less frequently on Safavid tiles.