Discussion about Islam art history
Miaminer
Week6Presentation_.pdf
600-‐900CE Tex+les, Ceramics, Glass
Kiswa -‐ silk cloth covering the Holy Kaaba, in the holy city of Mecca Made of pure natural silk dyed in black.
Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) All Muslims who are able, are required to make the pilgrimage to Mecca and the surrounding holy sites at least once in their lives. • Kaaba (cube in Arabic), Located in Mecca,
Saudi Arabia • Holiest shrine in Islam.
Thuluth script
Miniature of Mohammed re-‐dedicaHng the Black Stone at the Kaaba illuminated manuscript, 5 1/8 x 10 ¼ in., 1315, Edinburugh University Library
Four fibers used: ?
S-‐twist • Natural way to spin linen
Z-‐twist • Clockwise twist
Four fibers used: Wool – associated with nomads Linen – Strongest, labor intensive Co]on – most versitle Silk-‐most expensive – associaHon with Paradise
S-‐twist • Natural way to spin linen
Z-‐twist • Clockwise twist
Vine La_ce with Birds, 6th–9th century, Egypt, Silk, 6 3/8 x 12 1/16 in
Silk Road trade routes
TexHle Fragment with InscripHon, 10th– 11th century, Iraq, Co8on, gold, ink; plain weave, painted, 4 1/2 in x 1 5/8 in., kufic script
InscripHon: "O God! Give peace and blessing, in Thy mercy, O Thou most merciful of the merciful, to Abu 'Abdallah ibn Nasr."
Fragments of a Coat, early 14th century, Egypt, Silk double weave, thuluth script InscripHon: "Glory to our master the Sultan al‑Malik al‑Mu’ayyad."
TexHles woven on loom • Warps – parallel threads • Wels -‐ threads that run
from side to side on a loom or in a woven fabric
TexHle Fragment from an Ikat Shawl, late 9th–early 10th century, Co]on, ink, and gold; plain weave, resist-‐dyed (ikat), painted InscripHon: black ink and gold leaf; painted, L. 23 in. W. 16 in., Yemen امللك له Dominion belongs to Him God
ikat (ee-‐kat) weave – warp and someHmes wel threads are He-‐ dyed to create pa]erns when woven
warps (parallel threads) dyed blue and brown and wels (perpendicular threads) natural color, woven together to create pa]erns.
Tiraz – (Persian – embroidery) – • Inscribed with rulers name, served as a symbol of individuals’ loyalty to the
caliphate • Tiraz can refer to the texHles themselves, to the bands of inscripHon, or the
factories they were produced.
Tiraz TexHle Fragment, 991–1031, Iraq, Linen; plain weave, embroidered in silk, 4 5/8 x 11in., kufic InscripHon: "Bismillah. Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and a good end to those who fear God. And God bless Muhammad the seal of the Prophets, and all his family, the good, the excellent. Blessing from God and glory to the Caliph, the servant of God, Abu’l-‐ʻAbbas Ahmad, al-‐Qadir billah, Commander of the Faithful, may God glorify him and [. . .]."
Tiraz fragment, 892–902, Silk warp and co]on wel; plain weave, embroidered, Iran, H. 14 ¾ x W. 14 in. Kufic InscripHon :embroidered in chain sHtch in red silk: اهلل علی محمد النبي نعم اهلل ]sic[ بسم اهلل الرحمن الرحیم احلمد هلل امللك احلق املبین وحمل (...) للخلیفة أبي العباس اإلمام املعتضد باهلل In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Praise be to God, the King, the pure Truth, and may God praise Muhammad the Prophet, may God delight in the Caliph Abu l-‐‘Abbas al-‐Imam al-‐ Mu‘tadid billah On right margin in Hny sHtch: بن اخلشوعي ]أ[ عانه]؟ Ibn al-‐Khushu‘i, may [God] help him( ? )
Two types of Hraz factories: • Caliph –private factories
intended for the caliph and his court
• commercial or state producHon -‐ aristocracy and the wider public
TexHle Fragment from an Ikat Shawl, late 9th– early 10th century, Co]on, ink, and gold; plain weave, resist-‐dyed (ikat), painted InscripHon: black ink and gold leaf; painted, L. 23 in. W. 16 in., Yemen
Tiraz • InscripHons were someHmes used
primarily for decoraHon. • Text might be illegible or contain
errors, indicaHng presence of wriHng was as important as its content.
امللك له Dominion belongs to Him God
Tiraz TexHle Fragment, 939–40, Iraq, Linen, silk; plain weave, embroidered, 29 ½ x 21in., kufic InscripHon: In the name of God [...] al-‐Muqtadir billah Commander of the Faithful, may God glorify him. Of what the vizier ordered [in] the private Hraz, year 312/924–925."
Tiraz Fragment, 879–80, Iran, Silk; plain weave, embroidered in red silk, 6 ¼ x 12 in. Kufic InscripHon: . . . commander of the] faithful, may God strengthen [him],of what Abu Ahmad, the brother of the commander of the faithful, ordered [in the] Hraz of Nishapur, year two hundred sixty-‐six( 879–80 A.D.). – Abu ‘Abd Allah al-‐Khamis
Islamic Ceramics, glass, and metalwork • UHlitarian objects
Ceramics • Earth’s crust made up of largely igneous rock, which, as nature breaks it down,
becomes clay. • In its natural state clay easily molded and manipulated by the hand.
Naturally-‐occurring clay
Ceramics • Earth’s crust made up of largely igneous rock, which, as nature breaks it down,
becomes clay. • In its natural state clay easily molded and manipulated by the hand. • Defining characterisHc of clay -‐-‐ when heated to at least 1200F, it becomes hard, or
matures. • Firing clay to it’s maturing temperature makes it impermeable to water and gives it
permanence. • Firing adds expense & and skill is needed
Animal-‐shaped Pouring Vessel, Iran, 6th century, Earthenware, 8 3/4 x 12 x 6 3/16 in.
Ceramic glaze – • layer or coaHng of a substance which has been fused to a ceramic body through firing. • Renders earthenware vessels suitable for holding liquids • Alkaline glazes -‐-‐ low-‐fire ceramic glazes create bright colors. Can appear uneven and cracks • Lead glaze – uniform color, shiny like glass. Color not easily controlled in kiln.
Alkaline glazes
Lead Glaze
Fragment of a bowl, 9th century, Iraq, Earthenware; glazed, H. 1 9/16 in., W. 3 5/8 in., D. 2 11/16 in.
Fragment of a bowl, 9th century, Iraq, Earthenware; glazed, H. 1 9/16 in., W. 3 5/8 in., D. 2 11/16 in.
Bowl with Arabic InscripHon, 10th century, Earthenware; white slip with black-‐slip decoraHon under transparent glaze, Iran, H 7 in. x Diam. 18 in., kufic
Arabic inscripHon: Planning before work protects you from regret; good luck and well-‐being (prosperity and peace) التدبیر قبل العمل یؤمنك من الندم الیمن والسالمه
Slip -‐ suspension in water of clay and/or other materials • Usually between the
body of earthenware and the glaze
Porcelain vase with blue-‐and-‐ white decoraHon of peony scrolls, late 14th century,
Porcelain – hard, fine white ceramic fired at a high temperature with a translucent surface.
Bowl EmulaHng Chinese Stoneware, 9th century, Iraq, Earthenware; painted in blue on opaque white glaze , H. 2 3/8 in. x 8 in. InscripHon: ghibta (happiness) is repeated twice
Bowl, late 10th–11th century, Earthenware; white slip with polychrome slip decoraHon under transparent glaze, 14 in. new style kufic InscripHon: Blessing, felicity, prosperity, well-‐being, happiness [. . .]
The tall ver+cal strokes of these le8ers must have been included to make the overall visual effect of the inscrip+on more harmonious.
Bowl, late 10th century, Iran Earthenware; white slip with incised black slip decoraHon under a transparent glaze, 10 in. new style kufic InscripHon: Arabic: "He who talks a lot, spills a lot." "He who mulHplies his words, mulHplies his worthlessness” A person who talks too much has many faults
Bowl, 1000, Egypt, Earthenware; luster-‐painted on opaque white glaze, H. 2 7/8 in. x Diam. 10 in. InscripHon: Muslim
Luster – shiny metallic sheen on the surface of glass or ceramics. • Designs painted in oxides
of silver or copper. Smokey kiln takes the oxygen from the metal oxides and leaves the metal.
Islam frowned upon the use of precious metals for personal adornment or plate although not olen observed
Bowl with Green, Yellow, and Brown Splashed DecoraHon, 10th century, Nishapur, Iran 10 ¼ in., Earthenware; white slip, incised and splashed with polychrome glazes under transparent glaze
Splashware -‐ made throughout Iraq, Iran, and western Central Asia, a type possibly inspired by Tang Chinese wares that were mainly decorated in a combinaHon of green, yellow, and brown glazes.
Glassmaking
Syria & Egypt, Mesopotamia • Sand, ash, ground up seashells, heated and fused together … creates frit • Add ground glass melt and heat. • Blow from within or mold.
Glass Bowl, luster, late 10th–early 11th century, Egypt, Glass, bluish; blown, stained, H. 4 3/16 in. x Diam. 6 in. kufic InscripHon: illegible
Flask, late 7th–8th century, Syria, Glass, yellowish and pinkish; blown, applied decoraHon, H 3 3/8 in.
Such vessels were probably used as containers for kohl or perfume. • The shape and dimensions
of such a trinket-‐like figurine suggest that its contents were poured while it was comfortably held in the hand.
Ewer with Birds and Animals, 10th century, Iran, Glass, colorless; blown, folded foot, applied handle, cut, Diam. (at rim) 3 5/8 in. X Diam. (belly) 4 in. Diam. (base) 2 15/16 in.
Islamic relief-‐cut glass • cut away the surface to create
relief sculpture
9th–10th century, 5 3/8 in.
Ewer with Bird MoHf, Abbasid, 8th or 9th century, Iran
