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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11th/12th century, Egypt
Ivory, cut, carved, engraved, pierced, painted
height: 36,5 cm, width: 30,3 cm, depth: 5,8 cm
Openwork carvings with figures frontally or in three-quarter profile. All wear headgear and the clothing is patterned. The main motifs depicted are courtly feasts and hunting. Drinking scenes show people holding a carafe and a cup in their hands. Two of them sit on a cushion and most likely represent the rulers. A dancing courtier with the cup in his hand and a vineyard worker reading the vines are also recognizable. The festive scenes also include musicians who play the flute, mizmar (a kind of bowling oboe), short-neck lute, and other chord instruments.
The hunting scenes show riders and hunters carrying hoofed animals, hares and hunting birds (also falcons) and accompanied by dogs. Fights of animals are also depicted, such as a lion hunting a hoofed animal and a bird of prey hunting a gazelle. This scene is based on pre-Islamic motifs and can often be found on objects of that time. The background is decorated with a spiral vine with vine leaves and grapes. Birds and hares partly fill the gaps between the characters. Remains of a red color setting are still preserved.
The fittings probably originally decorated a large box, a door, or perhaps a throne bench.
(According to a text in: 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.