Summary of the book
The material and visual culture of the Islamic World casts vast arcs through space and time, and encompasses a huge range of artefacts and monuments from the minute to the grandiose, from ceramic pots to the great mosques. Here, Venetia Porter and Mariam Rosser-Owen assemble leading experts in the field to examine both the objects themselves and the ways in which they reflect their historical, cultural and economic contexts.
Islamic metalwork is the particular focus of this book, which celebrates the fundamental contribution to its study made by James Allan. It includes an important new study of Mosul metalwork and presents recent discoveries in the fields of Fatimid, Mamluk and Qajar metalwork. Reflecting the inter-disciplinary spirit of this book, chapters explore the role of painting in the design of Islamic metalwork, issues of influence between Iran and India, and the importance of textual sources for our understanding of metalworking and the trade in raw materials.
Metalwork and Material Culture in the Islamic World also investigates cases from the Islamic West, and the spread of different artistic styles and influences across the Islamic World and beyond. By examining architecture, ceramics, ivories and textiles, seventeenth-century Iranian painting and contemporary art, the book explores a wide range of artistic production and historical periods from the Umayyad caliphate to the modern Middle East. This rich and detailed volume makes a significant contribution to the fields of Art History, Architecture and Islamic Studies, bringing new objects to light, and shedding new light on old objects.
Publication Type
- Article