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.
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.
Limestone niche from the Audience Hall of the Citadel Complex of Amman, probably built during the reign of the Umayyad Caliph Hisham bn Abd al-Malik, between 724 and 743 AD
Inv. no. LNS 65 S e
Carved by mason’s means
Height 93 cm; width 63 cm
Jordan, 1st half 8th century AD
1st half 2nd century AH
Marble capital carved in a form derived from the Corinthian order, with an inscription in Kufic script giving the name of the stone carver (Shukr the young slave or fata), its date of manufacture, and invoking blessings on the patron, the Spanish Umayyad Caliph ‘Abd Allah al-Hakam al-Mustansir bi-’llah (r. 350 – 366 AH/961-976 AD)
Inv. no. LNS 1 S
Carved by mason’s means
Height 38.5 cm; width 26 cm
Spain, probably Cordoba or Madinat az-Zahra, dated 364 AH/974-5 AD
Rock crystal bottle, relief-carved with good wishes to the owner in Kufic script. The bottle probably served as a reliquary and was fitted in the 16th-century with Spanish gilded silver mounts inscribed: ‘In hoc signo vinces’, and engraved with the coats of arms of Barba de Campos de Castrofuerte of Castille, Santillan of Castille, Tello Barba Sandoval Santillan, and Tello of Castille
Inv. no. LNS 43 HS
Cut, ground and polished by lapidary means; silver mounts cast, fabricated, engraved and gilded
Height 17.8 cm; diameter 4.4 cm
Bottle east Iranian world, ca. 10th century AD
ca. 4th century AH
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