Author
'Abd Al-Rahman Ibn Zayyan (maker)
Publication Place
Cuenca (made, probably) -
Subject
Islam
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
4075-1857
Record ID
4075-1857
Library Location
Middle East Section
Notes
Small carved ivory plaque which would once have formed the front wall of a casket. It features decoration of an upside-down heart-shaped palmette which forms the base of a tree, whose branches develop into scrolling roundels inhabited by symmetrically-placed gazelles (on the bottom) and birds (at the centre), with a crown of leaves at the top. The animals hold plant shoots in their mouths, which is a characteristic of ivories produced under the patronage of the taifa rulers of Toledo, as is the heart-shaped palmette. The style of the carving is very similar to that on the 'Palencia casket', which is now in the Museo Arqueológico Nacional (Madrid). This was signed by the craftsman, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayyan, and dated 441 AH / 1049-50 AD. The centre of production was at Cuenca, a small town near Toledo, as we know from the inscriptions on other extant ivories from this workshop. The small rectangular box near the top of the plaque would originally have been left uncarved, and the casket's lockplate would have been attached here. However, this plain area of ivory was recarved at a later date, probably in the 13th century, to bear the bust of an angel giving a blessing. This speaks of the survival of this object, which must have found its way into the Treasury of some Cathedral in Northern Spain. This was the means of preservation of many ivory caskets made in Al-Andalus, and several were 'restored' by having missing sections replaced by enamel plaques.
Malzemeler ve teknikler
Carved ivory Ivory Carved
Fiziksel açıklama
Small carved ivory plaque which would once have formed the front wall of a casket. It features decoration of an upside-down heart-shaped palmette which forms the base of a tree, whose branches develop into scrolling roundels inhabited by symmetrically-placed gazelles (on the bottom) and birds (at the centre), with a crown of leaves at the top. The animals hold plant shoots in their mouths, which is a characteristic of ivories produced under the patronage of the taifa rulers of Toledo, as is the heart-shaped palmette. The style of the carving is very similar to that on the 'Palencia casket', which is now in the Museo Arqueológico Nacional (Madrid). This was signed by the craftsman, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayyan, and dated 441 AH / 1049-50 AD. The centre of production was at Cuenca, a small town near Toledo, as we know from the inscriptions on other extant ivories from this workshop. The small rectangular box near the top of the plaque would originally have been left uncarved, and the casket's lockplate would have been attached here. However, this plain area of ivory was recarved at a later date, probably in the 13th century, to bear the bust of an angel giving a blessing. This speaks of the survival of this object, which must have found its way into the Treasury of some Cathedral in Northern Spain. This was the means of preservation of many ivory caskets made in Al-Andalus, and several were 'restored' by having missing sections replaced by enamel plaques.
Üretim
This plaque is very similar in style to the objects made in the workshop of 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayyan, whose signature is found on the 'Palencia casket', made at Cuenca in 441 AH / 1049-50 AD, now in the Museo Arqueológico Nacional (Madrid).
Üslup
Taifa Al-Andalus
