A conservator at the V&A discusses new discoveries that have uncovered new information on their materials, techniques, history and provenance Conservation: The Nasrid plasterwork collection at the ... by Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Alexander, the Mongols, and the great epic of Iran. Folio from a Shahnama, The Bier of ... by Dr. Massumeh Farhad, Freer Gallery of Art and Dr. Steven Zucker
In this hunting scene from the Persian Book of Kings, the ruler Bahram lives up to his nickname “Gur,” or swift. Bahram Gur Fights the Karg (Horned Wolf) by Jayne Yantz
Vessels like this one were typically decorated with calligraphy, but a procession of figures is featured here. Mohammed ibn al-Zain, Basin (Baptistère de Saint ... by Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker
This prayer niche once pointed students towards Mecca. Its blue and white patterns comprise verses from the Qur’an. Mihrab from Isfahan (Iran) by Dr. Elizabeth Macaulay-Lewis and Dr. Steven Zucker
These stucco statues, with vivid costumes and distinctive round faces, may once have guarded a grand hall. Two Royal Figures by Dr. Elizabeth Macaulay-Lewis and Dr. Steven Zucker
Made for a Christian ruler by Islamic artisans, this cloak is full of Islamic motifs and cosmological references. Coronation Mantle by Dr. Steven Zucker and Dr. Beth Harris
The Islamic world turned writing into an art, but it’s the decoration, not the script, that sets these folios apart. Mamluk Qur’an by Mark Guranaccia
These two paintings illustrate the same story, but in different styles—as rulers changed, so did tastes for art. Bahram Gur in a Peasant’s House by Gioia Stevens
This city within a city is famed for its three highly decorative palaces and their equally elaborate gardens. The Alhambra by Dr. Shadieh Mirmobiny
Once painted and gilded, this panel was part of a larger frieze bearing commemorative Kufic inscriptions. Dado Panel, Courtyard of the Royal Palace ... by Elizabeth Kurtulik Mercuri
This florid box, designed to hold cosmetics, attests to the rich ivory carving tradition of Islamic Spain. Pyxis of al-Mughira by Dr. Elizabeth Macaulay-Lewis
The lavish materials used for this manuscript convey both its patron’s wealth and the sacred text’s dignity. Folio from a Qur’an by Alex Brey
This sprawling and magnificent mosque, in Iran, has been an integral part of the city’s fabric for centuries. The Great Mosque (or Masjid-e Jameh) of ... by Dr. Radha Dalal
New rulers emerged, and with them, distinctive styles of art. This period saw a renaissance in the decorative arts. Arts of the Islamic world: The medieval ... by Glenna Barlow