Iran Unglazed: Local, National and Global Histories of Persian Tilework

This talk examines the many ways that Persian tilework has been packaged and interpreted between the field, museum and photograph. At stake is a balancing act between prevailing narratives of world heritage and local and national histories, as well as the reconciliation of museum "objects" and their original architectural homes. Through this lecture, I highlight the circumstances that have informed the transformation and reception of Persian tiles over the last two centuries, including documentation, plunder, preservation, exhibition, commodification and, most importantly, audience. I ultimately seek to unglaze the study of Persian tilework by moving beyond pristine surfaces and illuminating contested, conditional, and at times even ugly histories.