The Kashan ceramic workshops in Iran specialized in manufacturing luster-painted architectural tiles like these well into the fourteenth century. Decorated with words from the Koran, these panels were probably part of a mihrab, the sacred wall niche found in every mosque that orients the worshipper toward the holy city of Mecca during prayers. The opulence of the tiles illustrates the special attention given mihrabs in Muslim architecture; as the most important part of the mosque interior, these features had to stand out visually within a vast enclosure - hence, the bright colors and rich luster.