Subject comparison from the cited registry. Date, attribution and rights qualifications remain below; not authentication or maker certification.
Wall tile with a man carrying a wine bottle, Iran, 1600s, acc. 1915.648 · Cleveland Museum of Art · CC0 (museum open access) · Photo source ↗
Spelling and pronunciation
- Persian: کاشی
- Transliteration: kāshi
- English usage: Glazed tile
Spellings vary between dealers, museums and regions. Usage notes are under review.
How the term is used
The general word for glazed tile, also used for tilework as a craft (kashi-kari).
Common confusions
Kashan's name is popularly linked to kashi, but historians debate the exact connection.
Tile, panel and architectural context
Kashi broadly names glazed tile and, in everyday usage, tilework. Add body, decoration and assembly method: painted polychrome tile, cut mosaic or another documented process. One general word is not a catalogue medium.
A loose tile can lose its architectural context. Distinguish contemporary work from a documented historical fragment and avoid undocumented antiquities. The association with Kashan cannot attribute every tile to that city. Blue alone identifies neither technique nor origin.
Compare the evidence
| Object or term | What to examine | Limit of the evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Individual tile | Body and glaze | Not a full architectural history. |
| Panel | Joint layout | Several assembly methods exist. |
| Fragment | Provenance and removal history | Age claim does not establish lawful origin. |
Practical questions
- Are all blue tiles the same technique?
- No. Blue occurs in many bodies and decorative systems; specify documented construction.
Sources and further reading
- Canadian Conservation Institute · Caring for cultural heritage
Preventive care context; not a glossary etymology source or individual treatment assessment.
Editorial draft awaiting specialist review. References provide context, not verification of every statement, object attribution or current workshop access.
Used in these crafts
Square polychrome tiles painted with several overglaze colours and fired together, allowing large architectural schemes to be produced faster than cut tile mosaic.