Publication Date
Fourth-fifth century / eleventh-twelfth century
Publication Place
-
Museum of Applied Arts
Subject
Carved ivory.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 17 سم؛ الطول: 39.5 سم؛ العرض:23سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
K 3101
Record ID
object;ISL;de;Mus01;12;ar
Library Location
Museum of Islamic Art
Date
Fourth-fifth century / eleventh-twelfth century
Notes
A rectangular box with a platform-shaped lid, made of ivory sheets fitted together. The lid is held by two silver ties that were added at a later time, but the lock is missing. The many holes indicate that this box has a long history, and it appears that many iron bands were attached to it. The box, except for its bottom, is decorated with animal drawings surrounded by narrow bands of palm leaves. Drawings and pictures of animals fighting each other also appear on the plates, sometimes in the form of miniatures and sometimes freely, and these animals are surrounded by circular branches. There is also a large variety of animals, as there are lions, rabbits, as well as goats, ibex, camels, and giraffes, in addition to birds. In addition, some mythical animals such as griffins appear. The animals are either depicted in conflict or being pursued by hunters. The human figures represent hunters or camel drivers. On one of the boxes of the Egyptian collection, to which this box also belongs, there is the name of the person who commissioned it, written in Latin letters. Therefore, it can be assumed that boxes like these were carved by Arab artists according to the Fatimid tradition in southern Italy for the benefit of a wealthy class. The types of animals present in this group allow us to confirm the existence of a close relationship between them and ordinary horns, as it can be said that both types were most likely made in the same workshops. Animal images of the same or similar style can also be identified on many buildings of the eleventh and twelfth centuries in southern Italy, and this suggests the conclusion that animal scenes were the subject of passion and fascination in Europe at that time.
Sample Text
Jens Kröger “Ivory box” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;de;Mus01;12;ar
