CDM UK Manchester

Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating Eid al-Adha today! How did people remember important life achievements before photography? This colourfully painted tile is a souvenir of the holy pilgrimage to Mecca. Known as the Hajj, Muslim believers are required to perform it once in their lifetime. Commissioned by someone who completed the Hajj around 1650, this tile shows a bird’s-eye view of Mecca. The stonepaste body was hand-painted and calligraphed before the final glazing, preserving its bright colours, such as cobalt and turquoise blue. All the important buildings are labelled in Arabic, and at the centre of the scene, the Ka‘bah is shown as the square black building. Get an up-close look at this tile on display at V&A South Kensington Room 42, Islamic Middle East. Tile, made in Turkey, ca.1650. Museum no. 427-1900.