Publication Date
Mid-fourth century-mid-fifth century / mid-tenth century-mid-eleventh century
Publication Place
-
Museum of Islamic Arts; Raqqada; Kairouan
Subject
Plaster decorations.
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
الطول: 33 سم؛ الارتفاع: 16 سم
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID
Stc 018
Record ID
object;ISL;tn;Mus01;40;ar
Library Location
Museum of Islamic Arts; Raqqada; Kairouan
Date
Mid-fourth century-mid-fifth century / mid-tenth century-mid-eleventh century
Notes
This animal resembles a mammal of the peccary family, which has no horns, or a hippopotamus that lacks a tail that has been shortened. The lower parts of the back legs and one of the front legs are also missing. When viewing the animal from the front, we notice that the facial features are clear, but they are very simplified, and are limited to a socket for the eye, a hole to indicate the nostril, and a concave line to indicate the mouth. When viewed from behind, the shape of the face appears completely unclear. The neck and the rest of the body appear very large. The use of this mammal remains unclear; Was it used to decorate wall facades or other low-profile patterns? The answer is very difficult due to the scarcity of similar pieces in Islamic art, whether in the Levant or in the Maghreb. It is certain that we have small clay figurines representing horses, camels and mules, originating in Iran or Samarkand, but the functions of these pieces are quite specific, as they were used as toys or decorative pieces, and they differ completely from the small figurines found in Kairouan, which remain unique in Islamic art.
Sample Text
Mourad Rammah “Figure representing a mammal” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;tn;Mus01;40;ar
