Publication Date
8th/14th century
Publication Place
-
National Archaeological Museum
Subject
wood; bone; mother-of-pearl; bronze; to feed; polychromy; Grooves.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 20 سم؛ العرض: 45 سم؛ العمق: 28 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
1972/105/3
Record ID
object;ISL;es;Mus01;25;ar
Library Location
National Archaeological Museum
Date
8th/14th century
Notes
A mimeograph box with a flat lid, integrated into the structure by the upper part, forming a rectangular prism. The inlaid decoration uses different types of wood, mother-of-pearl and bone. In the center of each facet, the piece presents an arrangement of twisted polygons and eight-branched stars; While the empty spaces were occupied by four-pointed stars. The ensemble is framed with a small red thread, followed by bands of different widths, geometric, smooth and incised with triangles; The same decorative scheme is repeated in the visible parts of the interior, while only the rest has been painted. The pencil case retains all its bronze: two wide hinges connect the lid to the back of the box; In each corner, a metal plate is folded and screwed to the support; In the middle of the face is a lock; On the top of the cover there is a tab with a gripping element and two other tabs on the sides in order to facilitate its transportation. All of these solutions are completed with fluted decoration. Inside, the box offers different compartments dedicated to housing the necessary tools for writing. The name “tarasiya” (inlay) is derived from the Arabic term “tarasa” (incorporate, inlaid) and is defined as the technique that is based on interlocking other pieces cut from another wood, or bone or mother-of-pearl, into solid wood, such as walnut. This technique of Levantine origin was captured in Granada of the 4th/10th century when the extinct pulpit of Al-Hakam II was built; The technique was later simplified, during the Nasrid period, and the pieces were carefully sawed and pasted onto a background of paper or parchment, which was in turn pasted onto the piece. This type of penmanship can be considered a forerunner of the later "barguenos", the Spanish honorary writers.
Sample Text
Margarita Sánchez Llorente “Pencil Case” inDiscover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;es;Mus01;25;ar
