Wooden panel

This piece is decorated in the khatam-kari (mosaic) technique, whereby rods of different coloured materials are glued together and then sliced thinly, with these slices then being inlaid on a wooden background. The central panels are heavily carved with Shi'ite inscriptions naming the Prophet Muhammad and the Imams. Although such pieces have often been associated with religious foundations others have survived in secular settings. In terms of date, the earliest dated pieces of this type are marked 1500-1 AD, and the latest 1591 AD, giving the MIA panel a likely 16th century dating.

• The symmetry group of the tiling is *442 (p4m).
• Contains two regular five-pointed star polygons with vertex angle of 36°.
• Contains one regular 10-pointed star polygon with vertex angle of 72°.
• Contains one regular 12-pointed star polygon with vertex angle of 72°.
• There are 7 non-regular reflective tiles (including 3 kites) and three reflective pairs.
• The tiling satisfies the two-colour condition.
• The tiling is edge-to-edge.
• As drawn, contains about 511 polygons.

1. Photo from Alberto Leon (No location, Iran. Museum of Islamic Art, WW.58.2003, Door Panel, Safavid, Wood, ivory, stained ivory, ebony, brass, 150 by 48.5cm) of Not specific. Personal Communication, Information sent to the author, 21c. [pc] (16th century AD)

• Tiling with three or more proper stars

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