Publication Date
Around the 12th century AH / 18AD
Publication Place
-
Islamic Museum
Subject
Wood, plaster and stained glass made using casting, engraving and gluing techniques.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 325 سم؛ العرض: 128 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
ش/37/34
Record ID
object;ISL;pa;Mus01;47;ar
Library Location
Islamic Museum
Date
Around the 12th century AH / 18AD
Notes
The piece is a plaster window divided into eleven decorative units consisting of floral, geometric and epigraphic shapes. The first unit covers the area of the window necklace, and consists of a round flower that matches the shape of the necklace, decorated with geometric decorations made of glass of yellow, turquoise, and dark red colors. This unit is followed by a rectangular unit containing the only written text included in the window, which is a Qur’anic text from verse 19 of Surat Al-Tawbah (No. 9) that reads, “For the sake of God, they are not equal to God.” This text was written in an interlaced script in white glass, and the spaces surrounding the text were filled with simple squares of light blue glass. The rectangular unit is followed by three squares of equal size. The two end squares are identical, with an eight-pointed star in the middle. They are divided into small sectors and covered with dark red, green, and yellow glass. The middle square contains two rhombuses, and is filled with yellow and blue glass. The decorative element then moves to three longitudinal rectangles. The two side rectangles are identical, decorated with overlapping zigzag lines and covered with blue, dark red and yellow glazes. As for the central rectangle, it takes the shape of a vase from which emerges an intertwined plant that wraps three semi-circular turns and is crowned with a floral crown. The window ends with three equal-sized squares similar to the squares mentioned above. The plaster windows covered with glass are prepared in several stages, which include first preparing a solid wood frame that is completely adapted to the shape and dimensions of the window to be made. After that, the liquid plaster is poured into the wooden frame and left in the shade until it dries completely, then it is lifted and fixed on an iron fixture. The decorative drawings to be executed are printed with all their details on the plaster surface, by transferring them from transparent paper using a needle and lead filings. Then the process of engraving the plaster begins manually using sharp tools and with extreme precision so that the window is not damaged because the plaster is very fragile. The holes have a slope of 45%, allowing the light falling on the window to reach its center, especially since these windows are often installed at high heights. After the successful completion of the engraving process, pieces of colored glass are glued to the openings from the back, and distinct colors of glass are used that match the shape to be produced. Finally, the net is transported from the operator to the place where it is to be installed. The work to produce such nets takes from six to twelve months.
Sample Text
Nazmi Al-Ju'beh “Plaster window” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;pa;Mus01;47;ar
