Publication Date
8th-9th / 14th-15th century
Publication Place
-
Islamic Museum, Al-Haram Al-Sharif
Subject
Carved marble.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 36 سم؛ القاعدة: 33×33 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
ز/ م/46
Record ID
object;ISL;pa;Mus01;22;ar
Library Location
Islamic Museum, Al-Haram Al-Sharif
Date
8th-9th / 14th-15th century
Notes
The piece is a marble column capital that perfectly represents the style of crowns in the Mamluk era, especially in the second half of the Mamluk era. This style of column capitals continued to be used throughout a long period of the Ottoman era in Palestine. The capital is elongated in shape, and consists of rows of muqarnas that recede to the point of almost disappearing, which makes the transition of the capital from one level to another and from one width to another smooth and not abrupt, as is the case in many styles of column capitals. The style of the crown presented here is characterized by simplicity, elegance, and precision of manufacture, in addition to the difficulty of execution. The crown begins with a cylinder that matches the diameter of the column on which it rests. Then the cylinder tapers gradually to help move to polygons inside which are written in Naskh script, which is difficult to read due to damage and the abundance of gilding and dyes. It may be a Qur’anic text. Each side of the polygon begins with a receding, simple, and gradual muqarnas. As the muqarnas rises, its size increases, ending at the top of the crown. The top of the crown expands without any decoration, but rather by bevelling the marble to reach the square surface at the top of the crown on which the arch rested. There are traces of gilding on the crown that might lead us to believe that it was installed in one of the niches of the mosques, as niches were often gilded.
Sample Text
Nazmi Al-Ju'beh “Column Crown” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;pa;Mus01;22;ar