Publication Date
End of the 3rd century - beginning of the 4th century AH / end of the 9th century - beginning of the 10th century AD
Publication Place
-
Museum of Islamic Arts, Raqqada; Kairouan
Subject
Poplar wood board covered with decorative leather.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الطول: 17.2 سم، الارتفاع: 8 سم، السماكة: 0.6 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
C 9632
Record ID
object;ISL;tn;Mus01;8;ar
Library Location
Museum of Islamic Arts, Raqqada; Kairouan
Date
End of the 3rd century - beginning of the 4th century AH / end of the 9th century - beginning of the 10th century AD
Notes
The interior has an Italian fit, and the rims have been blackened with tan leather. A group of braided lattices adorns the framed panel, where a caterpillar-shaped element composed of successive lines interrupted by a middle space, the ribbons, is furnished, and between its whorls is fastened with fasteners. The middle part of the painting includes a decorative braid consisting of three lobes. The border includes four frames, the second frame of which is decorated with a decorative braid inlaid with a caterpillar-shaped braid that encircles the circles. This skin is covered with a small panel, which is most likely made of poplar wood, and a sheet of parchment is attached to its back side. The decoration used on this skin is identical to the style popular at the time in Africa. Decorative braids, braids and clasps were used in the form of loops, and the square divisions in the pulpit of the Great Mosque of Kairouan, which bears the characteristic of Syrian Umayyad art, remain an inheritor of Byzantine themes, while evoking Abbasid art imbued with Sasanian influences. However, these indications do not enable us to conclude that the Kairouan binding industry was subject to the influence of its Syrian counterpart, as several links in the chain are still missing, especially since the bindings of the Kairouan books that were made in Kairouan were apparently inspired by their decoration from the material familiar to Christian decorators, as the Copts were noticeably distinguished in their use. In fact, it is likely that this volume cover is one of the achievements that “Christian” Egypt contributed to in enriching the Islamic world.
Sample Text
Mourad Rammah "Bound Cover of the Qur'an" in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;tn;Mus01;8;ar
