Publication Date
371 - 749 AH / 1331 - 1338 AD
Publication Place
-
Archaeological Museum, Rabat
Subject
Carved white marble.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الارتفاع: 28 سم؛ قطر قاعدة التاج: 20.6 سم؛ قطر أعلى التاج: 40.2 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
S.N.I
Record ID
object;ISL;ma;Mus01;17;ar
Library Location
Archaeological Museum, Rabat
Date
371 - 749 AH / 1331 - 1338 AD
Notes
This crown is considered one of the various models created by the artists of the Marinid state. Unlike the classical style, in terms of scales and decoration, where there is a very prominent difference between the base of the crown - the lower cylindrical part - and the plate - the upper parallel part of the crown -, the fact that the plate of this crown goes beyond its base is not very apparent and the decoration is not interrupted. The crown rests on a cylindrical belt-shaped heel. Its base was carved in the form of a zigzag decoration of smooth, curved canals at the top, and the central vertical slits and the spaces between the zigzag decoration were filled with a scaled composition with gradations. This winding decoration is topped with a floral decoration exuding captivating elegance, which ensures the connection between the two masses of the crown, as two lobes emerge from between two bilateral palm fronds that end with interlaced appendages of acanthals protruding at the top of the dividers, spiraling, to meet again in the center of the crown, forming what resembles two conjoined snail shells. At the top there is a flat frieze carved in relief, bearing a religious inscription in naskh letters, reproducing part of the Holy Qur’anic verse “64” from Surah Yusuf “12”: “For God is the best protector, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.” On each side of the frieze, the corner of the tympanum is occupied by two symmetrical palm leaves with interlaced appendages of aqueducts completely surrounding a curved pine nut-shaped ornament. The upper axis of the capital is decorated with a prominent rectangular support decorated with floral decoration. This decoration, full of gradations and liveliness, characterizes the capitals of the columns of mosques and schools during the Marinid period.
Sample Text
Naima El Khatib-Boujibar “Column Crown” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;ma;Mus01;17;ar
