Name of Object:

Cornerstone of an arch

Location:

Algiers, Algeria

Holding Museum:

National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Arts

About National Museum of Antiquities and Islamic Arts, Algiers

Date of Object:

Hegira 6th century / AD 12th century

Museum Inventory Number:

II.S.77

Material(s) / Technique(s):

Grey marble, sculpted.

Dimensions:

Height 48 cm, length 48 cm, depth 7 cm

Period / Dynasty:

Hammadid

Provenance:

Béjaia, Algeria.

Description:

Cornerstone of an arch sculpted from grey marble. Its perimeter is decorated with a linear motif in the form of a granulated chain links. The corner of the cornerstone is ornamented with a six-petal rosette that is decorated on each side with foliage ending in a fleuron. The segment of arch below the rosette is emphasised by a design composed of interlacing foils.
This archway cornerstone probably belonged to the entrance of a palace room.

View Short Description

Sculpted spandrel of an arch that decorated the entrance of a palace room. Its perimeter is decorated with linear motifs in the form of granulated chain links. The corner of the spandrel is decorated with a six-petal rosette, the edges of which are decorated with foliage ending in a fleuron.

How date and origin were established:

By G. Marçais, who dates it from the 6th / 12th century.

How provenance was established:

By G. Marçais, who attributes it to the town of Béjaia.

Selected bibliography:

Marçais, G., Le musée Stéphane Gsell, musée des antiquités et d'art musulman d'Alger, Alger, 1950.

Citation of this web page:

Leila Merabet "Cornerstone of an arch" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;dz;Mus01;39;en

Prepared by: Leila MerabetLeila Merabet

Titulaire d'un magister en archéologie islamique (spécialité épigraphie arabe), conservateur du patrimoine archéologique et historique, Leila Merabet est chef du service Conservation et Valorisation (section islamique) au Musée national des antiquités. Elle a publié de nombreux articles dans les Annales du Musée national des antiquités.

Copyedited by: Margot Cortez
Translation by: Maria Vlotides
Translation copyedited by: Monica Allen

MWNF Working Number: AL 71

RELATED CONTENT

 Artistic Introduction

 Timeline for this item

Islamic Dynasties / Period

Hammadids


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The Muslim West | Andalusian-Maghrebi Art

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Architectural Elements

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