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Islamic Art Glossary

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(@sam-knopik)
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When developing this list (obviously not comprehensive) I chose to focus on terms specific to teaching art/architecture.

Arabesque- Decorating motif based on interconnecting vegetive scenes

Blazon - An emblem similar to a coat of arms indicating status

Boss - Ornamental projection on decorative items and architecture

Buraq - The celestial steed that carried the Prophet on his miraculous night journey

Chasing - A tooled decorative technique to indent a metal surface

Cloud Bands - Stylized scrolling, cloud-like bands, derived from China and employed in Persian, Ottoman, Mughal art post 14th Century

Folio - Page belonging to a manuscript

Gesso - White plaster-like material used to prepare a surface for painting

Illumination - Practice of embellishing pages of a manuscript w/gold

Kufic- Font of a certain Arabic script

Minaret - From "light house" a tall tower attached to a mosque used for calling faithful to prayer

Mihrab -  Recessed niche in a mosque indicating the direction of Mecca

Marqarnas - Stalactite-like architectural ornamentation

Nastaliq - A cursive script with diagonal sweeps invented in the 14th century and popular in Persian manuscripts

Pishtaq - The framing decoration around the opening on an IWAN (a room created by a vaulted space on one side)

 

-Sam Knopik

 

 

 

This topic was modified 1 year ago by Sam Knopik

   
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