Islamic ArtThe term “Islamic art” encompasses the entire realm of artistic production in those lands where, from the 7th century onward, the Muslim religion took hold. Islamic art includes not only objects used in the service of religion but also those created for the courts of the
Islamic achievements in all artistic media are represented at the Walters. Among the highlights are a 7th-century carved and hammered silver bowl from Iran that demonstrates the continuation of Sassanian traditions in early Muslim Persia; a 13th-century candlestick made of copper, silver, and gold from Mamluk Egypt; 16th-century mausoleum doors decorated with intricate wood carvings in a radiating star pattern; a delicate 17th-century silk sash from Moghul India; and a 17th-century Turkish tile with an image of the Great Mosque of Mecca. The arts of the pen, including calligraphy and miniatures, are represented at the Walters by a stunning array of Islamic manuscripts. These include a 15th-century Koran from northern India, executed at the height of the Timurid empire; a luxurious 16th-century copy of the Khamsa by Amir Khusraw, the so-called Parrot of India, illustrated by a number of famous artists for the emperor Akbar; and a Turkish calligraphy album by Sheik Handullah al Amasi (d.1520), one of the greatest calligraphers of all time. |
