How did faience decoration become important under the Seljuqs and Timurids?

In the context of Central Asian and Islamic arts, faience and glazed tilework became essential decorative elements as architectural styles evolved to emphasize monumental scale and visual splendor.

Seljuq Period

During the 13th century, Seljuq Turks in Anatolia utilized bricks and tiles covered with colored glazes for architectural decoration, particularly in mosques. While stone sculpture dominated much of their facade work, a significant art of painted-tile decoration evolved in centers like Konya, likely influenced by Iranian artists fleeing the Mongol invasions. This tradition of using glazed-tile paneling was later adopted by the Mongols, who succeeded the Seljuqs.123

Timurid Period

Under the Timurids, the use of color in architecture reached a high point, with buildings divided into panels of brilliantly colored tiles, sometimes mixed with stucco or terra-cotta. This decorative technique served to commemorate the reigns of rulers and governors, adorning sanctuaries, mosques, and memorial buildings. By the 15th century, the tradition was further reinforced when Persian craftsmen were brought from Tabriz to decorate major structures, ensuring that tilework remained a central feature of the era's grand architectural projects.41