Publication Date
5th/11th century
Publication Place
-
British Museum
Subject
The enamel restaurant is gone.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
2.1 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
1981.7-7.2
Record ID
object;ISL;uk;Mus01;4;ar
Library Location
British Museum
Date
5th/11th century
Notes
A golden crescent-shaped pendant inlaid with enamel. The fragmented enamel piece, which bears a symmetrical design of two birds facing each other on either side of a tree, is surrounded by two bands of delicate openwork gold. The necklace was probably attached to strings of pearls passed through the three rings at the bottom. The inlaid enamel imitates Byzantine designs. Byzantine gold jewelry was known in Fatimid Egypt, either through Byzantine craftsmen who immigrated to Egypt or through diplomatic gifts sent by Byzantine rulers. In the year 437 / 1046, the Fatimid Caliph Al-Mustansir, who ruled in the period 27-486 / 36-1094, received a large gift from the Emperor of Byzantium, which included hundreds of gold vessels and turbans made of brocade embroidered with gold. These diplomatic gifts were recorded in Ibn Zubayr’s “Book of Treasures and Gifts,” which he wrote before the destruction and loss of the Fatimid treasures in 1062.
Sample Text
Emily Shovelton “Necklace” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;uk;Mus01;4;ar
