Publication Date
Early 7th / 13th century
Publication Place
-
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
Subject
Door leaves: walnut and poplar wood, bronze and perforated copper. Hammer: Cast and engraved bronze.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
مصراع الباب: الارتفاع: 300 سم؛ العرض: 112 سم (224 سم لكليهما)؛ مطرقة الباب: الارتفاع: 27.5 سم؛ العرض: 24 سم؛ العمق: 3 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
المطرقة: 3749 ؛ مصراعا الباب: 4282
Record ID
object;ISL;tr;Mus01;4;ar
Library Location
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
Date
Early 7th / 13th century
Notes
The two wooden shutters go back to the door of the Great Mosque on the island, and were covered with bronze sheets decorated with copper strips and strips fastened with iron nails. The perimeter frame is trimmed with foil which is convenient for use with round head nails. Each leaf contains three round medallions, each center containing a twelve-pointed star. The spaces separating each other are filled with half medallions, which when joined when the leaves are closed form two half medallions and two full medallions. The spaces between the medallions and the geometric shapes are filled with perforated metal sheets and decorated with arabesque motifs in the form of palm leaves. Remaining traces of pigment suggest that the background of the arabesque decorations was originally colored red and blue to make the designs more legible. The half and quarter medallions spread along the outer edges of the two leaves suggest that the decorative composition extends to infinity. Almost at the center of each leaf is a loop for hanging the hammers, one of which is currently on display in Copenhagen. The cast bronze hammer, which is still on the door, consists of two symmetrical carved dragons joined in the middle by a lion's head. These two dragons have pointed ears, almond-shaped eyes, and wings. Their bodies are fastened with a loop around a spiral to form a ring, while the two tails meet and eventually form the heads of an eagle. On the upper part of the two leaves there is a relief inscription in cast bronze letters. Because some letters are missing, the writing cannot be fully read. However, on the clear part we read the text: “May God grant strength to our king, Abdul Qasim Mahmud Sanjar Shah.” The person mentioned is the atabeg (emir) of the Jazira, Mahmud Sanjar Shah, who ruled between the years 605-639 / 1208-1241.
Sample Text
Alev Özay “Door leaves with hammer” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;tr;Mus01;4;ar
