Plaque with mihrab motif framed by inscription in relief

The niche in the center of this turquoise plaque references a mihrab—the marker within a mosque that signals the qibla, that is, the direction toward the city of Mecca. Muslims are required to turn toward Mecca in prayer. The representation of the mihrab on this ceramic plaque—depicting a sanctuary lamp suspended from chains— evokes sacred text without literally reproducing it, for it calls to mind a well-known verse from the Qur’an (24:35) that begins: "God is the light of the heavens and the earth. The likeness of His light is as a niche, wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is, as it were, a shining star.…" Inscribed (Arabic): He is God, the One, the Only God,the Eternal, the Absolute. He begetteth not, nor is Hebegotten. And there is none like unto Him. (Qur’an, 112)