2-580-461 - © CM Dixon/Heritage Images

Glazed terracotta tile, Neo-Assyrian, from Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), northern Iraq, c883-c859 BC. This glazed tile, along with the stone reliefs, was part of the decorative scheme of the royal palace. It depicts an Assyrian king, possibly Ashurnasirpal II (reigned 883-859 BC), accompanied by his bodyguard and attendants. It was probably part of a sequence showing the king as triumphant warrior and hunter. Such tiles provide a clue to the kind of colour scheme used for the relief panels. The decoration was executed in yellow, black and green (perhaps originally red) paint. These were made from natural materials. From the British Museum's collection.