RARE DAMASCUS TILE Siliceous paste with decoration in cuerda seca and painted in polychrome under a transparent colourless glaze, European brass frame with repoussé decoration and monogram "BA". Levant, Damascus, circa 1550 Sighted tile: 20.5 x 20 cm Damascus tiles are best known for their palette of white, black, cobalt, turquoise, green and aubergine. Some rarer models had even more varied palettes, including yellow. This is the case of this example, where the central half-palmette was initially an amber colour. This half-palmette motif on a floral scroll background is a classic Damascene design, originally created for the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, whose restoration was commissioned by Soleyman the Magnificent in the mid-16th century. This motif can also be found on other buildings in the Aleppo region. The British Museum holds a group of three tiles with the same motif, one of which has a similar palette with a half-palmette in yellow (acc. no. 1895,0603.139). This tile is presented in an early 20th century European brass frame with repoussé decoration of peacocks facing each other and vine scrolls. It is monogrammed "BA". Expert : cabinet Alexis Renard (visible by appointment with the expert)