Stone & Stucco

Stone and stucco have a long history in the art and cultures that became the Islamic world. Even as far back as the Bronze Age, stone was used to create almost reverential objects of sacred animals, demons and gods/goddesses.
Stone and stucco remained the chosen media for an important and characteristic Islamic architectural element: carved and pierced window screening panels which allowed ventilation while providing privacy and shade to the interior. From early Islamic times these were executed in both materials and were employed in religious and secular buildings. Stucco techniques were highly developed and widely used to embellish interiors as well as these window grilles.
Islamic masons inherited a tradition of carving stone for decorating the exteriors and interiors of buildings from the ancient world, and the palaces of the first Islamic dynasty, the Umayyad Caliphs, were enhanced by richly carved vegetal and abstract motifs. Arabic calligraphy soon became one of the most important elements of architectural decoration. Beautiful examples of calligraphy on tombstones provide us with important fixed chronologies for the development of a variety of calligraphic styles.
In the Mughal era stone predominated, and many large and beautiful screens were produced. White marble panels inlaid with semi-precious stones and other coloured materials were also created during in India during that period. 

LNS 105 S

LNS 105 S

Pierced sandstone screen (jali) featuring a pattern of six-pointed stars...
LNS 285 S

LNS 285 S

Marble fountain basin with Indian-style rosettes in the corners and...
LNS 32 ST a-d (c)

LNS 32 ST c

Two stucco ten-pointed star tiles, one with a representation of...
LNS 32 ST a-d (a)

LNS 32 ST a

Two stucco ten-pointed star tiles, one with a representation of...
LNS 13 ST

LNS 13 S

Stucco architectural panel (from a dado), with a section from...
LNS 4 S

LNS 4 S

Marble tombstone with Kufic inscription giving the name and patronymics...
LNS 27 S

LNS 27 S

Marble architectural panel featuring a fragmentary elaborate and mannered ‘archaizing’...
LNS 231 S v2

LNS 231 S

Sandstone architectural crenellation element of foliate form, relief-carved with a...
LNS 183 S v1

LNS 183 S

Schist cenotaph of Prince Shams al-Milla wa 'd-Din Muhammad, son...
LNS 129 S v3

LNS 129 S

Limestone tombstone in the form of an architectural niche with...
LNS 3 HS v1

LNS 3 HS

Rock crystal bottle, relief-carved on both faces with a stylised...
LNS 43 HS v1

LNS 43 HS

Rock crystal bottle, relief-carved with good wishes to the owner...
LNS 1 HS a-j v6

LNS 1 HS a, d, e, g, h, i

Rock crystal chess pieces from two different sets, relief-carved with...
LNS 1 S v3_1

LNS 1 S

Marble capital carved in a form derived from the Corinthian...
LNS 160 S v1

LNS 160 S

Basalt tombstone of a certain Rizq ibn ‘Abdallah...
LNS 65 S a-n (e) v1

LNS 65 S e

Limestone niche from the Audience Hall of the Citadel Complex...
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