Tile Panel with Verses from the Qur'an

Description Inscribed with verses from the Qur’an (Koran), these tile panels once decorated a great architectural monument of Ottoman Turkey. Iznik, located in northwestern Turkey, was a major center for quality ceramics that reached a highpoint of production during the 16th century, when these panels were made. They would not originally have been placed next to one another, as they are not consecutive verses. The first four panels are from chapter two, verse 257, which refers to Allah being a guardian of believers bringing them out of the darkness and into the light. The fifth and sixth panels are from chapter three, verse 26. This latter verse speaks of Allah being the beholder of the Kingdom, which is bestowed upon the devout. The final panel, containing only a few letter forms, is unidentified.

Conservation

Date	Description	Narrative
7/29/1974	Treatment	mounted; loss compensation

Provenance Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Inscriptions [Translation] From Sura al-Baqara: chapter 2, verse 257: From the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light; [Translation] From Sura al-Ali-i Imran: chapter 3, verse 26: Thou givest the kingdom to whomever thou pleasest

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters