Two rare Safavid figural tiles, Kubachi, North Persia, late 16th-17th century

the first of square form painted in underglaze cobalt blue, green, yellow and relief red, outlined in black with a central lobed cartouche enclosing a bust of a figure surrounded by flowers, the interstices with cloud bands, the other of octagonal form painted in underglaze cobalt blue, green and manganese, outlined in black with a lobed cartouche enclosing a bust of a turbanned figure possibly holding a pomegranate

A similar Kubachi tile is in the Keir Collection (Robinson et al, Islamic Art in the Keir Collection, London, 1988, pp.196-7, C53). Watson suggests that the group may have been inspired by Delftware tiles of the same period (ibid., p.197), though the influence of the painting style of Riza 'Abbasi is undeniable.