Ivory & Wood
LNS 35 W
Featuring thuluth and naskhi inscriptions providing an extraordinary wealth of information, in addition to two passages from the Qur’an: the name and titles of the
Objects of ivory and wood comprise decorative architectural items such as beams and doors, and smaller items such as boxes, jewellery and gaming pieces. Relatively few examples have survived due to the perishability of the materials.
That said, an ivory standing female figure circa 2450 – 2350 BCE from Syria or Mesopotamia is witness to the skills of pre-Islamic artisans. The figure originally included inlays for eyes, eyebrows and the pubic area in addition to holes that indicate the addition of a hair piece.
Ivory was used throughout Islamic times, much of it initially following the Byzantine tradition. Highly prized in Europe in the mediaeval period, many items produced in Islamic lands were donated to churches where they are still preserved in treasuries of cathedrals. Fine objects continued to be produced by Muslim and other craftsmen for Christian patrons in the aftermath of Arab rule in Italy and Spain. Ivory was often used for sword and dagger hilts and small items of adornment such as belt buckles, which are particularly well represented from the Ottoman Empire and India.
The inventiveness of artists continued in the Islamic period. It can be seen in the ‘bevelled’ style of the 9th century through the mediaeval period’s complex geometric patterns which were used for compositions in door panels and furniture, especially well known from pulpits (minbars) and Qur’an stands (kursis) of mosques. A completely different style of carving developed in the Islamic West where a style of florid vegetal decoration developed, often highlighted with polychrome painting.
Featuring thuluth and naskhi inscriptions providing an extraordinary wealth of information, in addition to two passages from the Qur’an: the name and titles of the
Wooden box with hinged drop-down front for access to the internal drawers, inlaid in floral motifs of ivory and bone (with internal engraved and stained
Pair of wooden shutters or cupboard door leaves inlaid with bone, featuring an infinite-repetition geometric star pattern (pentagonal lozenge plan of repetition, ten-pointed stars and
Wooden marquetry kit-box for a calligrapher inlaid with wood, ivory and dyed bone and inlaid with gold-painted ivory panels
Wooden door (two leaves and centre-post); the panels deeply carved with hexagonal compartments filled with leafy half-palmette arabesques, their surfaces further detailed with scrolls and
Wooden cenotaph covered in religious inscriptions (in thuluth script) of reassurance, including one from the Qur’an (chapter 2, verse 38)
Ivory casket with gilded bronze fittings, decorated with medallions enclosing addorsed and confronted birds and tierkampf scenes of felines attacking hares. The casket is lined
Lidded ivory box with guilloche borders, a band of infinite-repetition geometric pattern (square plan of repetition) and an inscription in naskhi script, invoking ‘Glory to
Ivory box, carved in relief with representations of unicorns, birds and plant forms. The edge of the lid carved with human faces and quadrupeds, its
Covered ivory bottle with ribbed bulbous body and slightly concave neck, the latter inscribed in Kufic script (in ‘vertically mirrored’ fashion) ‘O Fulfiller of needs,
Ivory mortar with guilloche borders, the body with four twelve-petalled compasswork roundels against a ground of frilly half-palmette designs
Group of ten luxurious spoons made, variously, of coral, mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoise shell, horn, coconut shell and wood, and with silver and copper elements
Group of ten luxurious spoons made, variously, of coral, mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoise shell, horn, coconut shell and wood, and with silver and copper elements
Group of ten luxurious spoons made, variously, of coral, mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoise shell, horn, coconut shell and wood, and with silver and copper elements
Group of ten luxurious spoons made, variously, of coral, mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoise shell, horn, coconut shell and wood, and with silver and copper elements
Group of ten luxurious spoons made, variously, of coral, mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoise shell, horn, coconut shell and wood, and with silver and copper elements
Group of ten luxurious spoons made, variously, of coral, mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoise shell, horn, coconut shell and wood, and with silver and copper elements
Group of ten luxurious spoons made, variously, of coral, mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoise shell, horn, coconut shell and wood, and with silver and copper elements
Group of ten luxurious spoons made, variously, of coral, mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoise shell, horn, coconut shell and wood, and with silver and copper elements
Group of ten luxurious spoons made, variously, of coral, mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoise shell, horn, coconut shell and wood, and with silver and copper elements
Group of ten luxurious spoons made, variously, of coral, mother-of-pearl, ivory, tortoise shell, horn, coconut shell and wood, and with silver and copper elements
Wooden frieze, probably from a palace, with a series of elaborately cusped arches containing mirrored repetitions of the word ‘happiness’ (al-Yumn) in Kufic script
Wooden niche-head with carved foliate designs and muqarnas squinches lining the interior of the arch
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