Author
Unknown
Publication Date
1300
Publication Place
Spain (made) Toledo (city) (made, probably) -
Subject
Woodwork Architecture
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Height: 28.5cm, Width: 287cm, Thickness: 6cm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
W.30-1982
Record ID
W.30-1982
Library Location
Middle East Section
Date
1300
Notes
The following excerpt is from Mariam Rosser-Owen, Islamic Arts from Spain (V&A Publication, 2010), p. 81: Toledo had been absorbed into Castile in 1085, and had therefore had a Mudejar community for about 150 years by Alfonsoâs time, but during the early thirteenth century, new Islamic style began to be imported from the Almohade territory which Castile was then conquering. This was a great century for Toledan Mudejar. Arabic inscriptions were characteristic of the Mudejar architecture of Toledo, but apart from these painted instances they tended to be written in the Kufic script, since the use of cursive writing in inscriptions only evolved in Islamic lands in the twelfth century, after Toledo was conquered by Castile. Toledoâs craftsmen were therefore isolated from this new development in the Islamic world, and the continued use of Kufic in Toledo comes to seem rather archaic. The inscriptions continue to be legible, indicating that Arabic-speakers were involved in their creation. Kufic inscriptions were frequently painted or carved on to wooden friezes, which ran below ceilings and usually contained a standard vocabulary of Arabic wishes for well-being.
Malzemeler ve teknikler
Carved pine wood, covered with gesso and painted Pine Carving
Fiziksel açıklama
Long rectangular panel made of carved pine wood, decorated with a horizontal composition of a single, repeated Arabic inscription written in the Kufic script; the tops of the letters are decorated with foliated scrolls. A thin geometric band runs along the top of the panel, which is which is painted in black. Traces of black and red pigments remain.
