Islamic Art

Kaa’ba, Mecca

Is a holy sight in Islamic culture, it is the first place god touched. Destination of the pilgrimage.

Qur’an Folio, Hejurz Script

Kufic script, ink and gold on vellum

Folio from The Blue Qur’an, late 9th- early 10 century, Tunisia, North Africa, Gold and sliver on indigo dyed parchment.

The great Mosque of Damascus, Syria C.E 643, Umayyad Capital,

Was Formerly the Basilica of John the Baptist but was converted into a mosques, but the Byzantine decoration was kept

Kairouan, Tunisia Great Mosques

This Mosques is a Hypostatic style, was famous for its library.

Dome of the Rock

This central plan structure, is a very important Islamic sight, having connection to many Islamic religious figures particularly the story of Muhammad’s night journey.

Great Mosque, Cordova, Spain, 784-786,

This Hypostyle Mosque, made from a Visigoth church, stands as symbol of political power. The new Caliph at the time added to the his own decorative Maqsura.

Madinat Al-Zahra, Cordova, Spain 936 C.E

This Structure is known for its grand entrance hall and throne room.

Pyxis Of Al Mughra, Al Andalusia, Madinat al Zahra, AH 357/968 CE, Craved ivory with jade

This decorative cosmetic container was given to Mughra youngest son. It had lots of Political Iconography, centered around what it means to be a caliph.

Great Mosque Minaret, Malwiya Tower Abbasid Period, 848-51 C.E

This structure was designed after a ziggurat, it acted as a strong symbol for the Islamic faith since the minaret was to call people to prayer.

Basra Blue and White wares, 9th century Earthware, tin glazed cobalt

These Earthware bowl show the influence that Islamic had from their trading with china.

Tomb of the Samanids, Bukhara, Uzbekistan c. 920’s

This central plan tomb was made to be a show that they were in charge. Even though the Quran speaks against decorative tombs, but they the powers of the Islamic world made tomb to highlight and show there power.

Bowl with black and red Inscriptions( saying from Hadith), Khorasan province, Iran, 9th-10th c, Samanid Dynasty

Pattern Earthenware with Kufic inscriptions

Great Mosques Masjjide Jomeh Isfahan

This most is a masterpieces of brick architecture, with its decorative deign and craving, also its layout in the city.

Freer Beaker Iran Seljuk Dynasty 12 century underglaze and overglaze enamel painting

This beaker tells the story of Bizhan and Manizha

Bowl with scene of Courtier and Attendants Iran late 12th- early 13 century, min’al ware

This bowl during its restoration many elements were repainted and fix.

Plate with figures December 1210, stone paste painted over with glaze luster Kushan, Iran

This plate has a lengthy inscriptions praising the receiver.

Bobrinsky Bucket, Greater Iran, multiple artist 1163 C.E Selijuk period, Hermitage

This bucket is an early example of zoomorphic calligraphy.

Baptistery de Saint Louis, Egypt or Syria, circa 1320-1340, hammerer brass, gold and sliver, inlay

This interact piece has no calligraphy instead the whole piece is made up of intertwined iconography .

Frits are Mihrab tiles Iran Kashan, II Khalid Dynasty late 13 century

Luster glass with painted in blue turquoise over opaque white glass

The Great Illkhanid Shanhnama, Court of Abu Sa id (1316-1315) 9 century ruler of the Illkhanid dynasty

Illustration of a great epic poem, front the book of kings one of the most influential works on Persian culture, and art.

Guru Amir complex, gur emir mausoleum madras a and khanqah 1403-1404 tomb of Timur

It is the tomb of a whole line of rulers

Laila and Majnun at School: Page from the Khamsa of Nizami 835 /1431–32 a.d. Artist: possibly Mir Khalil; calligrapher: Ja'far Herat,

The Timurid prince commissioned this piece for his manuscripts, it from a famous poem by Nizami

Tahmina enters Rustam’s Chamber Shahnama Iran, Timurid Dynasty c. 1410

Was commission but the Timurid courts illustrating the story o Tahmina and Rustam

Humay and Humayun in a Garden, Herat, c. 1430