Islamic Design Art

Ewer 13th century Iran Metropolitan Museum of Art

Architectural Model Based on the Alhambra Maker: Rafael Contreras (Spanish) 19th century Made in Spain Medium: Plaster (original stucco, tiling and wood) colored.... Metropolitan Museum of Art

Ablutions Basin of Yemeni Sultan al-Mujahid Sayf al-Din 'Ali,ca. Egypt, 132163 Although commissioned for a Rasulid sultan of Yemen, this basin reflects prevai...ling tastes of early fourteenth century Cairo and was clearly produced there or in Damascus, where comparable pieces were created. Bold inscriptions on the wall and rim constitute the central decorative theme, punctuated by medallions featuring lotus blossoms and the Rasulid emblem, a fivepetaled rosette. Metropolitan Museum of Art

Kashkul (Beggar's Bowl), Iran,19th century The kashkul, or beggar’s bowl, is perhaps the most emblematic accoutrement of the wandering dervish. These typically ...boat-shaped vessela were made in a variety of media, including coco-de-mer shell, wood, metal, and ceramic. Dervishes used them primarily to collect and store alms (their main source of sustenance) and occasionally as drinking vessels. In later centuries, many were marketed as decorative objects since a devoted dervish would be unlikely to carry an elaborately carved kashkul as it would contradict his belief in the renunciation of worldly goods in favor of unconditional devotion to the Divine. The kashkul has a number of metaphorical associations. For example, it represents the cleansing of a sufi’s soul of all extraneous earthly desires in preparation for the acceptance of Divine love; it was also with a dervish's life of poverty. The inscription, an excerpt from sura 67 verse 51 from the Qur'an, has been skillfully pierced into the steel body of the vessel and then damascened in gold. Metropolitan Museum of Art

Silver Gilt Tray, India, 18th century Metropolitan Museum of Art

A documentary film about Islamic Art. Shot on Super 16mm film in Iran, Egypt, Syria, Turkey and Spain. By: Lobster Pictures

Finial in the Form of a Parrot, India,17th18th century Metropolitan Museum of Art

British Museum's screens made by Saudi artisan Five screens serve to let light into the Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic World in the British Museum. They were made by Saudi designer Ahmad Angawi who has given traditional Islamic geometric patterns a contemporary twist. STORYLINE One of the more unusual houses in Jeddah belongs to Dr. Sami Angawi, a respected architect....Continue reading

Making a Mangour screen part I Artist Ahmad Angawi takes us through some of the geometry and craft processes behind the making of the beautiful mangour window s...creens that are such a feature of the the Albukhary foundation galleries of the Islamic world at the British museum. By: the British museum

In 1232, Shuja' ibn Man'a al-Mawsili completed a magnificent brass ewer inlaid with copper and silver, very likely for the local ruler of Mosul, Iraq. With its ...vignettes of sports, battles, and courtly entertainments, this ceremonial vessel is a celebration of aristocratic life under the Seljuq Turks. 2016 The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Glass water-flask in the shape of a pilgrim's flask; gilded and enamelled decoration. Syria, 1250-1260 British Museum

Bezoar Stone with Case and Stand, India,17th century Sought by European nobility, Goa stones are compounds of natural elements once thought to have curative pro...perties. The ornate containers were believed to enrich the medicinal effects. Metropolitan Museum of Art

HRH The Prince of Wales explains why he created his School of Traditional Arts in Shoreditch, London, and what it strives to achieve. A film made by Ian Skelly ...and David Martin as part of a series on the Prince of Wales's vision and the work done by his Charities and Charitable Foundation. By: Ian Skelly

How verses, Islamic art are painted on the Kaaba robe By: Al Arabiya English

Earthenware bowl, painted in luster over an opaque, white glaze Iraq; 10th century The David Collection