Creator:Helen Schrider Higgins
Date: c.1950s Description: Six unglazed terra cotta relief tiles depicting verses from the famous epic poem, The Rubaiyait of Omar Khayyam.
Medium: Terra cotta
These tiles by Higgins are illustrations based on translations of verses from the famous epic poem, The Rubaiyait of Omar Khayyam. They were last exhibited in the early 1960s. While there is no date on these recently conserved tiles, they are done in the unglazed terra cotta relief techniques that she utilized for her CU thesis. It is believed that they were done in the 1950s from multiple translations of the poetry of the 11th Persian polymath.
To view each object in more detail, view the gallery below.
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (1/6)
Creator: Helen Schrider Higgins
Date: c. 1955
Medium: Terra cotta
Description: Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring
Your Winter-garment of Repentance fling:
The Bird of Time has but a little way
To flutter - and the Bird is on the Wing
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (2/6)
Creator: Helen Schrider Higgins
Date: c. 1955
Medium: Terra cotta
Description: Into this Universe, and why not knowing,
Nor whence, like Water willy-nilly flowing;
And out of it, as Wind along the Waste,
I know not whither, willy-nilly blowing.
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (3/6)
Creator: Helen Schrider Higgins
Date: c. 1955
Medium: Terra cotta
Description: A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, A Loaf of Bread - and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness -
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (4/6)
Creator: Helen Schrider Higgins
Date: c. 1955
Medium: Terra cotta
Description: For in the Market-place, one Dusk of Day
To watch a Potter thumping his wet Clay;
And with its all-obliterated Tongue
It murmur'd - "Gently, Brother, gently, pray!"
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (5/6)
Creator: Helen Schrider Higgins
Date: c. 1955
Description: None answer'd this; but after Silence spake
A Vessel of a more ungainly Make:
"They sneer at me for leaning all awry;
What? did the Hand then of the Potter shake?"
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (6/6)
Creator: Helen Schrider Higgins
Date: c. 1955
Description: And when Thyself with shining Foot shall pass
Among the Guests Star-scatter'd on the Grass,
And in thy joyous Errand reach the Spot
Where I made one - turn down an empty Glass!