Covering tile depicting a gallant scene, Iran qâjâr, Tehran or Isfahan, circa 1880-90 Large siliceous ceramic tile with underglaze polychrome molded and painted decoration of a couple flanked by their attendants exchanging in an abundantly flowered landscape, with churches in the background. A frieze of foliage and birds crowns the scene. 32.8 x 37.1 cm A few accidents and glaze chips. A very similar tile in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (inv. 230-1887) is attributed to the years 1865-85 and the churches depicted are described as Armenian churches in Isfahan. The subject appears to be fairly widespread, with two other tiles featuring the same iconography in the Hassan Mohazzab collection in Brussels. One is signed Safar 'Alî while the other is dated 1311 H / 1893-94. Bibliography : FELLINGER, Gwenaëlle (dir.), L'Empire des Roses, Chefs-d'œuvre de l'art persan du XIXe siècle, exhibition catalog, Lens, 2018, cat. 293 and cat. 294, p. 305.