Author
Unknown
Publication Date
1750
Publication Place
Syria (made) -
Subject
Calligraphy
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Height: 160mm, Diameter: 130mm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
AP.11-1889
Record ID
AP.11-1889
Library Location
Middle East Section
Date
1750
Notes
Engraved with Arabic ornament highlighted in black, Syrian, 1750-99
Tarihsel bağlam
Dr Anne Regourd of the University of Leeds suggested that 94-1889 and AP.11-1889 are so far unusual in her corpus as their decoration is engraved rather than painted. A painted ostrich egg was found in the excavations of Quseir al-Qadim, on the Red Sea coast of southern Egypt. It can be dated by its stratigraphy to the Mamluk period (1250-1517), and more specifically to the 15th century. It is fragmentary, but covered with painted Arabic inscriptions. These are not Qur'anic, but all have something to do with death. The context of the find was a graveyard site, so it may have been an object which was buried with someone, or which decorated a tomb or mausoleum. This is the theory of Professor Dionisius Agius of the University of Leeds who is publishing this find, with some other comparable pieces (such as a much smaller egg, perhaps from a chicken, in the British Museum which is also painted with Arabic inscriptions).
Malzemeler ve teknikler
Carved ostrich egg Ostrich Eggshell Carving
Fiziksel açıklama
Ostrich egg carved with Arabic ornament. The engraved areas are filled in with black ink to create a contrast.
Üretim tipi
Unique
