This item has been added to the Database within the Explore Islamic Art Collections project. Information is available in: English, Greek, Arabic.

Name of Object:

Fragmentary decorative plaque

Location:

Athens, Greece

Holding Museum:

Benaki Museum

About Benaki Museum, Athens

Date of Object:

Hegira 2nd century / AD 8th century

Museum Inventory Number:

10411

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Ivory, carved

Dimensions:

15 cm X 7 cm

Period / Dynasty:

Umayyad

Provenance:

Egypt or Syria

Description:

The fragmentary plaque is carved in high relief allowing the decoration to stand in depth. Its main decoration consists of a vine scroll with five-lobed leaves, bunches of grapes with birds and a hare. A hole on the upper left side suggests that it was attached on to a larger object such as a piece of furniture.
The ornamentation is strongly related to the decorative vocabulary of the late Umayyad architectural decoration such as the façade of the palace of Mshatta.

Citation of this web page:

 "Fragmentary decorative plaque" in Explore Islamic Art Collections. Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;EPM;gr;Mus21;28;en

MWNF Working Number: GR 28