Museum of Islamic Art - photos
Photos and information of a selection of exhibits shown at the Museum of Islamic Art, located in the Pergamon Museum on the Berlin Museum Island.
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Around 1320, Nasrids, Granada (Spain)
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Cedar wood, poplar wood, carved, remains of red, blue and green painting. Height 190 cm, width and depth 355 cm
The dome once covered an observation tower of the Palacio del Partal in the Alhambra, the palace city overlooking Granada in Spain, which was built under the Nasrid ruler Muhammad III. (r. 1302-1309). This palace, which opens onto a large water basin with an arcade hall, is dominated by the observation tower from which one could enjoy the view of Granada. In the 19th century, when parts of the Alhambra were privately owned, it was called "Torre de las Damas" (Tower of the Ladies).
In 1891 the German banker Arthur von Gwinner, with the permission of the Spanish authorities, dismantled the wooden dome and brought it to Germany, where it was installed in his private house. The dome, composed of many individual parts, is richly carved and was originally painted and gilded.
Its center is formed by a roof of 16 boards with a star weave, which are arranged around a star ornament. This roof rests on a square plinth which is stepped into a 16-corner, each step being decorated differently: there are narrow triangular spandrels with shell rosettes, parts with pine cones and shells, inscriptions and a stalactite cornice (muqarnas).
The Arabic inscriptions reflect the ruling motto of the Nasrid rulers : "There is no victor but God". Four triangles with tiny muqarnas domes appear in the corners as a transition to the square tower room where the dome once sat.
(Text: SMB-digital, online collections database. Transl.: UiU)
© Photos: Haupt & Binder
Photos and information of a selection of exhibits shown at the Museum of Islamic Art, located in the Pergamon Museum on the Berlin Museum Island.