Explore the Picnic Tile panel

Panel of glazed earthenware tiles depicting a picnic scene, said to have come from the Chihil Sutun (Forty Columns) Palace of Isfahan, Iran, 17th century. Museum no. 139:1-1891

This panel of tiles is on display in room 42. It is thought to have come from one of the palaces built in the city of Isfahan after it became the capital of Iran around 1600. The panel shows a lady of very high rank enjoying a picnic in the countryside in spring, surrounded by attendants, trees and flowers.

The scene refers to the ideal world imagined by Persian poets, and the mixing of male and female attendants, in particular, suggests it would never have taken place in reality. Yet the details of the festive gathering show how rich Iranians aspired to live at this time.

Explore the picnic panel

Many objects similar to those shown in this panel are on display at the V&A and some of these are shown below.

• 

  Brown and Lavender Bowl, 1600–1700

  Brown and Lavender Bowl
  Iran
  1600-1700
  Fritware with relief decoration under coloured glazes
  Museum no. 1110-1883

• 

  Turquoise Bottle, 1600–1700

  Turquoise Bottle
  Iran
  1600-1700
  Fritware under coloured glaze
  Museum no. 621-1889

• 

  Lavender Dish, 1600–1700

  Lavender Dish
  Iran
  1600-1700
  Moulded fritware under coloured glaze
  Museum no. 1282-1876

• 

  Green Bowl, 1600–1700

  Green Bowl
  Iran
  1600-1700
  Moulded fritware under coloured glaze
  Museum no. 551-1888

• 

  Small Storage Jar with Chinese Decoration, 1600–1700

  Small Storage Jar with Chinese Decoration
  Iran, 1600-1700
  Fritware painted under the glaze
  Museum no. 1544-1903
  Given by Sir Charles Marling, KCMG, CB

• 

  Length of Velvet with Flowers, 1600-1700

  Length of Velvet with Flowers
  Iran, probably Isfahan
  1600-1700
  Silk velvet
  Museum no. 717-1899

• 

  Dish with Ducks in Landscape, 1600–1700

  Dish with Ducks in Landscape
  Iran
  1600-1700
  Fritware incised and painted under the glaze
  Museum no. 1152-1876