What is islamic art

Islamic architecture is best exemplified in its mosques and related religious buildings, two of the greatest examples being the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and the Great Mosque in Damascus. View all related items in Oxford Reference ». Search for: 'Islamic art' in Oxford Reference ». All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single entry from a reference work in OR for personal use for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice.

Oxford Reference. Publications Pages Publications Pages. The repeated geometric patterns often make use of plant motifs, and these are called arabesques. Stylised arabic lettering is also common. The integration of arts and crafts into everyday life was very much the norm in the traditional Islamic world. The idea is that as Islam is integral to every part of a Muslim's life and makes it beautiful, so Islamic art should be used to make the things of everyday life beautiful.

An example is this lajvardine bowl, from 13th century Iran, decorated in gold and cobalt blue lajvard is Persian for cobalt. Search term:. Read more. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets CSS enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. An example of this is the albarello, a type of earthenware jar originally designed to hold apothecary ointments and dry drugs.

The development of this type of pharmacy jar had its roots in the Islamic Middle East. Hispano—Moresque examples were exported to Italy, inspiring the earliest Italian examples, from 15th century Florence.

More refined production happened much later, presumably by Muslim potters who worked in the areas reconquered by the Christian kingdoms. The Hispano—Moresque style mixed Islamic and European elements in its designs and was exported to neighboring European countries. The style introduced two ceramic techniques to Europe:. Ottoman Iznik pottery produced most of the finest ceramics of the 16th century—tiles and large vessels boldly decorated with floral motifs that were influenced by Chinese Yuan and Ming ceramics.

These were still in earthenware, since porcelain was not made in Islamic countries until modern times. The medieval Islamic world also painted pottery with animal and human imagery. Examples are found throughout the medieval Islamic world, particularly in Persia and Egypt.

The textile arts refer to the production of arts and crafts that use plant, animal, or synthetic fibers to create objects. These objects can be for everyday use, or they can be decorative and luxury items. The production and trade of textiles pre-dates Islam, and had long been important to Middle Eastern cultures and cities, many of which flourished due to the Silk Road.

When the Islamic dynasties formed and grew more powerful they gained control over textile production in the region, which was arguably the most important craft of the era. The art of carpet weaving was particularly important in the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman state was founded by Turkish tribes in northwestern Anatolia in and became an empire in after the momentous conquest of Constantinople.

Stretching across Asia, Europe, and Africa, the Empire was vast and long lived, lasting until when the monarchy was abolished in Turkey. Within the Ottoman Empire, carpets were immensely valued as decorative furnishings and for their practical value. They were used not just on floors but also as wall and door hangings, where they provided additional insulation. These intricately knotted carpets were made of silk, or a combination of silk and cotton, and were often rich in religious and other symbolism.

Hereke silk carpets, which were made in the coastal town of Hereke, were the most valued of the Ottoman carpets because of their fine weave.

The Hereke carpets were typically used to furnish royal palaces. Carpet and interior of the Harem room in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul : The Ottoman Turks were famed for the quality of their finely woven and intricately knotted silk carpets. The Iranian Safavid Empire — is distinguished from the Mughal and Ottoman dynasties by the Shia faith of its shahs, which was the majority Islamic denomination in Persia. Safavid art is contributed to several aesthetic traditions, particularly to the textile arts.

In the sixteenth century, carpet weaving evolved from a nomadic and peasant craft to a well-executed industry that used specialized design and manufacturing techniques on quality fibers such as silk.

The carpets of Ardabil, for example, were commissioned to commemorate the Safavid dynasty and are now considered to be the best examples of classical Persian weaving, particularly for their use of graphical perspective. Textiles became a large export, and Persian weaving became one of the most popular imported goods of Europe. Islamic carpets were a luxury item in Europe and there are several examples of European Renaissance paintings that document the presence of Islamic textiles in European homes during that time.

Islamic textile production, however, was not limited to the carpet. Royal factories were founded for the purpose of textile production that also included cloth and garments.

The development and refinement of Indonesian batik cloth was closely linked to Islam. The Islamic prohibition on certain images encouraged batik design to become more abstract and intricate. Realistic depictions of animals and humans are rare on traditional batik, but serpents, puppet-shaped humans, and the Garuda of pre-Islamic mythology are all commonplace. Although its existence in Indonesia pre-dates Islam, batik reached its high point in the royal Muslim courts, such as Mataram and Yogyakarta, whose Muslim rulers encouraged and patronized batik production.

Today, batik has undergone a revival, and cloths are used for other purposes besides wearing, such as wrapping the Quran. Javanese court batik : The development and refinement of Indonesian batik cloth was closely linked to Islam. Privacy Policy. Skip to main content. Islamic Art. Search for:. Introduction to Islamic Art. Islamic Art Islamic art encompasses visual arts produced from the seventh century onwards by culturally Islamic populations.

Learning Objectives Identify the influences and the specific attributes of Islamic art. Key Takeaways Key Points Islamic art is not art of a specific religion, time, place, or of a single medium. Instead it spans some years, covers many lands and populations, and includes a range of artistic fields including architecture, calligraphy , painting, glass, ceramics , and textiles, among others. Calligraphy and architectural elements are given important religious significance in Islamic art.

Islamic art developed from many sources: Roman, early Christian art, and Byzantine styles ; Sassanian art of pre-Islamic Persia; Central Asian styles brought by various nomadic incursions, and Chinese influences appear on Islamic painting, pottery , and textiles. Stand for a Qur'an Manuscript Zain? Hasan Sulaiman Isfahani. Tympanum with a Horse and Rider. Helmet with Aventail. Velvet with Figural Imagery. Pierced Window Screen. Dish with Bird, Rabbit and Quadruped Design.

Fragments of a Carpet with Lattice and Blossom Pattern. Citation Department of Islamic Art. Central and North Asia, — A. The Eastern Mediterranean, — A. Egypt, — A.