Antique Qajar Moulded Tile

Antique Qajar underglaze moulded pottery tile, 19th century. The depiction of four women particularly focussed on the themes of dance and music. One such scene shows a musician playing the Ney (flute), while the other plays the Tar (stringed instrument). A third dances and holds the symbolic flask and goblet. A table laden with apples usually appears in representations of women in the Qajar era, representing love and fruitfulness. The idealised portrayal of beauty is seen in their stylised features; large oval eyes, curved nose, flower-bud mouth and heavy brows.