A Kashan moulded pottery tile with falconer on horseback on a lustre ground, Persia, 12th/13th century

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This is an unusual Kashan tile and depicts a number of potential scenes. Comparisons can be drawn with a tile in the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, inv. no.48.1296 depicting Faridun on Birmaya, holding an ox-head mace. His two attendants hold maces that have similar curved lines in the centre as the ball which the figure on horseback on this tile holds, suggesting it is a mace. Another Kashan tile moulded in relief in the Museo Nazionale d'Arte Orientale, Rome, however, depicts horsemen playing polo (attributed to circa 1290). The horses are shown with blue splashes as with this example and the figures are in animated action. On this tile, we can surmise that these are two figures holding maces and possibly ready to participate in battle rather than a friendly game.