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Four ivory rods
(أربعة قضبان عاجية)

Title	Four ivory rods
Title Original	أربعة قضبان عاجية
Publication Date:	Fifth-sixth century / eleventh-twelfth century
Publication Place	- Museum of Islamic Art
Subject	ivory
Type	Other
Language	Undetermined
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Physical Dimensions	الصفائح الأفقية: الطول: 36.5 سم؛ العرض: 5.8 سم. الصفائح العمودية: الطول: 30.3 سم؛ العرض: 5.8 سم. سماكة الصفائح: 1-1.5 سم
Library:	Museum With No Frontiers
Library Asset ID	I. 6375
Record ID	object;ISL;de;Mus01;8;ar
Library Location	Museum of Islamic Art
Date	Fifth-sixth century / eleventh-twelfth century
Notes	These four ivory bars, trimmed and perforated, are excellent examples of tiles from the Fatimid era. They are also considered one of the most important pieces of art dating back to that era. The decoration is transverse on two bars, and longitudinal on the other two. The two vertical bars are slightly shorter than the others. Remnants of the red color indicate a colored frame that no longer exists. Engraved shapes appear prominently in various images. People move on a floor with vine branches extending in a spiral, and bunches of grapes hang from these plants. Hunters with hunting falcons, their assistants, and musicians (flute, flute, oud, and percussion instruments) also appear lively and realistically. These drawings also show a bartender pouring drink from a jug, vineyard workers picking grapes, and falcons hunting. As for the drawings of fighting animals, they show a lion fighting a bull, and a falcon killing a deer. There is a prince resting on a pillow and holding a cup in his left hand. The other people all wear brocade robes appropriate to the style of the era. Likewise, head coverings are appropriate for that period and imagination has no role in them. There are some drawings that rely on pre-Islamic art and demonstrate the continuation of ancient traditions. The Fatimids, in particular, went beyond the prohibition of images, and depicted people in their court circles. The drawings found on ivory works in the Fatimid era can be compared, in terms of style and subject matter, with wooden and pottery art pieces made in the same period, noting that the techniques of engraving and engraving on ivory reflect greater artistic skills. The purpose of making these bars is still unclear, as they could be for use on a wooden surface (a door or cupboard) or on a throne. The Arab historian Al-Maqrizi (766-845/1364/1442) described a Fatimid throne made of ebony and ivory.
Sample Text	Annette Hagedorn “Four Ivory Rods” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;de;Mus01;8;ar

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Museum With No Frontiers

Four ivory rods

(أربعة قضبان عاجية)

Publication Date Fifth-sixth century / eleventh-twelfth century

Publication Place - Museum of Islamic Art

Subject ivory

Type Other

Language Undetermined

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Physical Dimensions الصفائح الأفقية: الطول: 36.5 سم؛ العرض: 5.8 سم. الصفائح العمودية: الطول: 30.3 سم؛ العرض: 5.8 سم. سماكة الصفائح: 1-1.5 سم

Library Museum With No Frontiers

Library Asset ID I. 6375

Record ID object;ISL;de;Mus01;8;ar

Library Location Museum of Islamic Art

Date Fifth-sixth century / eleventh-twelfth century

Notes These four ivory bars, trimmed and perforated, are excellent examples of tiles from the Fatimid era. They are also considered one of the most important pieces of art dating back to that era. The decoration is transverse on two bars, and longitudinal on the other two. The two vertical bars are slightly shorter than the others. Remnants of the red color indicate a colored frame that no longer exists. Engraved shapes appear prominently in various images. People move on a floor with vine branches extending in a spiral, and bunches of grapes hang from these plants. Hunters with hunting falcons, their assistants, and musicians (flute, flute, oud, and percussion instruments) also appear lively and realistically. These drawings also show a bartender pouring drink from a jug, vineyard workers picking grapes, and falcons hunting. As for the drawings of fighting animals, they show a lion fighting a bull, and a falcon killing a deer. There is a prince resting on a pillow and holding a cup in his left hand. The other people all wear brocade robes appropriate to the style of the era. Likewise, head coverings are appropriate for that period and imagination has no role in them. There are some drawings that rely on pre-Islamic art and demonstrate the continuation of ancient traditions. The Fatimids, in particular, went beyond the prohibition of images, and depicted people in their court circles. The drawings found on ivory works in the Fatimid era can be compared, in terms of style and subject matter, with wooden and pottery art pieces made in the same period, noting that the techniques of engraving and engraving on ivory reflect greater artistic skills. The purpose of making these bars is still unclear, as they could be for use on a wooden surface (a door or cupboard) or on a throne. The Arab historian Al-Maqrizi (766-845/1364/1442) described a Fatimid throne made of ebony and ivory.

Sample Text Annette Hagedorn “Four Ivory Rods” in Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;de;Mus01;8;ar