Author
Unknown Unknown (makers)
Publication Date
836
Publication Place
Samarra (made) -
Subject
Islam Architectural Fittings
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Height: 15cm, Width: 15cm, Depth: 4.5cm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
A.88-1922
Record ID
A.88-1922
Library Location
Middle East Section
Date
836
Notes
This roundel in the shape of a vine leaf, is made from carved stucco, and was originally part of the wall decoration of a house at Samarra in Iraq. This was the palace-city constructed by the Abbasid caliphs about 125 km north west of Baghdad, from 836. The roundel can be dated stylistically between 830 and 880. This is one of the many pieces in the V&A's collections which was excavated by Ernst Herzfeld during the 1911-1913 campaign at Samarra.
Tarihsel bağlam
Samarra was founded by the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tasim (r. 833-842) in 836 AD to serve as his imperial capital. The sight chosen was about 125km upstream from Baghdad on the left bank of the Tigris. The founding of new cities was an important way of displaying values of kingship. Al-Mu'tasim ordered the construction of a planned city including a network of canals, streets, monumental mosques, palaces, gardens and racecourses. He also allocated land to military and court officials, who built richly decorated palace complexes and greatly increased the size of the city. His son and successor, Caliph al-Mutawakkil (r. 847-861) ordered the construction of the famous spiral minaret at the great mosque. Construction halted at Samarra in about 880 AD and later was abandoned by the Caliph and his court in 892. At 57 km2, Samarra is today the largest Islamic archaeological site in the world. The construction of the many mosques and palaces at Samarra fostered an early flowering of architectural decoration. What mainly survives today are wall revetments in carved plasterand wall paintings on fine gypsum surfaces. Earlier Iranian (Sassanian) decorative styles influenced much of the carved plaster panels found at Samarra. The decoration was primarily based on vegetal forms but later developed into more abstract motifs. The wall paintings illustrate a wide range of subjects such as geometric patterns and courtly scenes with figurative representations of listening and playing music, banqueting and dancing. Depictions of animals, especially camels and birds also feature on fragments recovered from the site.
Malzemeler ve teknikler
plaster, stucco
Fiziksel açıklama
Roundel, plaster, carved in the shape of a vine leaf. Herzfeld's red inventory number on object: 512.
Üretim
From Samarra
Üslup
Abbasid
