Publication Date
The first half of the 5th century AH / 11th century AD
Publication Place
-
Museum of Islamic Arts; Raqqada; Kairouan
Subject
Carved and decorated white marble.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الطول: 141 سم؛ العرض الكامل: 37 سم؛ السماكة 5 سم؛ العُصبة الكتابيّة: 32 سم؛ الحروف ذات الذيول: 31سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
MR 010
Record ID
object;ISL;tn;Mus01;32;ar
Library Location
Museum of Islamic Arts; Raqqada; Kairouan
Date
The first half of the 5th century AH / 11th century AD
Notes
This inscriptional frieze was confined to the front wall of the middle court of the Gharian corner, above the outer mihrab. The Kufic letters, which are large in size and carved in relief on a recessed background, are distinguished by the thin groove that defines their circumference. The elegance and decorative richness of these letters is due to the drawing of the letter structures and the use of new decorative elements to decorate their ends. The Kufic calligraphy that adorns this frieze indicates extreme sophistication: the shape of the letters is carved according to the requirements of the composition. The writing floor is exquisitely executed, and presents an image of a space that has been filled in harmoniously. A magnificent, serpentine-shaped branch stands out from the group, as it emerges from the letter Nun and ends with a three-lobed flower, touching the letter that precedes it. This shape also includes an abstract leaf consisting of five lobes, which has been recorded in the classification of African (Tunisian) decorative arts since the 3rd century AH / 9th century AD. The presence of the letter M between two letters that end with a tail, namely the Lām and the Nūn, forms an empty area that is difficult to fill. The sculptor's genius lies in that he solved the problem by creating a very rich decorative element, as we notice a heart-shaped element emerging from the word "peace", symbolizing love and tenderness. This inscription is not complete and provides the following phrase: “Enter it in peace, secure and...”
Sample Text
Mourad Rammah “Inscriptional frieze” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;tn;Mus01;32;ar
