Publication Date
Fourth-fifth centuries / Tenth-eleventh centuries
Publication Place
-
National Archaeological Museum
Subject
Carved slate with concave shapes.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 5 سم؛ العرض: 3.4 سم؛ السماكة: 0.7 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
1956/45/6 (2)
Record ID
object;ISL;es;Mus01;18;ar
Library Location
National Archaeological Museum
Date
Fourth-fifth centuries / Tenth-eleventh centuries
Notes
A slate panel of rectangular shape, slightly trapezoidal, carved on both sides in concave shapes. The piece presents at the four corners the holes and pivots used to engage the reinforcement shutter that forms the complete melting block. On one of the facades, between two parallel lines delineating the axial space, a six-petaled flower appears within a concave circle. On the lower part, we find a small channel for the melting metal to flow. The other front, with its axis, hole, and channel, bears a small disc, resembling a coin, decorated with an epigraphic decoration carved in three lines, and a ring for suspension in the upper part. This type of mold with two independent leaves, usable on both sides, made it possible to make small ornaments in a series, such as garlands; And amulets...etc. The liquid metal, melted in a forge, was poured onto the mold to obtain the desired shape; After hardening, all that remains is to carry out a small refinement of the pieces while they are cold using appropriate tools. Andalusian women belonging to the middle class used to carry this type of jewelry on a regular basis; However, we only keep a few remains of these jewelry, due, no doubt, to the fact that the metal is constantly subjected to re-melting and reuse.
Sample Text
Margarita Sánchez Llorente “Mold for melting” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;es;Mus01;18;ar
