Lot 5: A MEDIEVAL TERRACOTTA ARCHITECTURAL BRICK WITH KUFIC CALLIGRAPHY, PROBABLY CENTRAL ASIA 11TH - 13TH CENTURIES

A MEDIEVAL TERRACOTTA ARCHITECTURAL BRICK WITH KUFIC CALLIGRAPHY, PROBABLY CENTRAL ASIA 11TH – 13TH CENTURIES

A rectangular terracotta architectural block featuring a relief-moulded face. This object is characteristic of medieval Islamic architectural decoration, specifically from the regions of Greater Iran or Central Asia during the 11th to 13th centuries. The primary decorative field consists of several registers of stylised Kufic calligraphy arranged diagonally across the surface. These registers are separated by raised double-line borders. The script is executed in an angular, blocky style typical of monumental epigraphy from the Seljuk and Ghaznavid periods. The outer border shows remnants of a weathered foliate or geometric pattern. The sides and reverse of the block are plain and unfinished, displaying the coarse, pitted texture of the fired clay, which would have originally been set into mortar as part of a larger facade or minaret. The material has an earthy buff-to-reddish tone.

46 by 16cm