This item has been added to the Database within the Explore Islamic Art Collections project. Information is available in: English, Arabic.

Name of Object:

Tiles of the Buyan Kuli Khan

Location:

Hamburg, Germany

Holding Museum:

MKG Museum for Applied Arts

About MKG Museum for Applied Arts, Hamburg

Date of Object:

Hegira 8th century / AD 14th century

Museum Inventory Number:

1908.472

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Glazed ceramic

Dimensions:

Length: 125cm x Width: 59cm

Period / Dynasty:

Chagatai Khanate

Provenance:

Uzbekistan, Fatahabad near Buxoro

Description:

These tile fragments are from the mausoleum of Buyan Qulï Khan in Bukhara. The turquoise glazed tile is decorated with an intricate vine pattern in white. The ornament is not painted, but cut as a relief into the clay using a complex technique.
These tiles were a part of the decoration program of the mausoleum of Buyan Kuli Khan, who was murdered in 1358. He was the 25th successor of Genghis Khan (1155/62 / 67-1227) and ruled over the Chagatay Khanate empire. His tomb is situated in Bukhara, present-day Uzbekistan, and was covered with tiles both inside and out. The present fragment was initially installed on the outer facade. The Victoria and Albert Museum also possesses several tiles from the mausoleum.

How date and origin were established:

These tiles are from the mausoleum of King Buyan Kuli Khan. They were acquired in 1903 by Justus Brinckmann in Kabebdjan Galleries in Paris.

How Object was obtained:

Endowment in 1908.

How provenance was established:

Gift from Alfred Beit, London, through Ounik Kalebdjian, Paris.

Selected bibliography:

Haase, C.-P., "Buyan Quli Chan—Baudekor," Damaszener Mitteilungen, 11 (1999): 205-225.

Citation of this web page:

 "Tiles of the Buyan Kuli Khan" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2026.
https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;de;Mus21;43;en

Copyedited by: Caitlin Link

MWNF Working Number: DE1 43