Calligraphic zellige glazed tile panel

Fez (Morocco), First half 19th century AD

Height: 10 cm Width: 69,5 cm (Framed – Height: 15,5 cm Width: 74,5 cm)

This refined calligraphic panel is composed of a series of zellige tiles glazed in the characteristic black and white tones of manganese on engobe, a combination that evokes the austere elegance of Maghreb Islamic art. Originating from Fez, one of the oldest and most prestigious ceramic centres in the Islamic world, the work dates from the early 19th century, when local craftsmanship achieved an exceptional balance between sobriety and sophistication rooted in the Andalusian heritage.

The panel features a Maghreb calligraphic inscription, carefully arranged on a sequence of square tiles. Although the calligraphy is partially stylised, as is common in architectural friezes of this type, fragments can be distinguished that could correspond to a formula of blessing or praise. These inscriptions were common in madrasas, zawiyas, mosques and stately residences, where the written word was harmoniously integrated with decorative geometry to confer beauty and baraka.

The zellige technique, which combines mathematical precision with artistic sensitivity, is one of the most admired expressions of the workshops of Fez, passed down from generation to generation since the 14th century. This piece not only embodies the technical excellence of the Fez workshops, but also the spiritual dimension of Islamic art, where formal beauty becomes a vehicle for contemplation.

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