Echoes of Paradise: the Garden and Flora in Islamic Art / Flora and Arabesques: Visions of Eternity and Divine Unity

‘The arabesque is certainly the most popular alternative to naturalistic floral compositions.’

The arabesque is certainly the most popular alternative to naturalistic floral compositions. Formed from a combination of stalks, scrolls, leaves and palmettes that grow from each other and develop in an endless, symmetrical arrangement, the arabesque became universally popular in Islamic art from the 5th / 11th century. The arabesque's adaptability and versatility lends itself to the decoration of artefacts and architectural structures alike, inviting contemplation of the unfathomable interconnections and interdependencies of God.

NameDynastyDetailsJustification
Qur'anHegira 842–57 / AD 1438–53MamlukMuseum of Islamic Art
Cairo, Egypt
The arabesque is a very popular decorative motif used in the illumination of pages of many precious Qur'ans.
Qur'an standHegira mid-7th century / AD mid-13th centurySeljuqs of Rum (Anatolian Seljuq)Museum of Islamic Art at the Pergamon Museum
Berlin, Germany
The arabesque designs and scrolls on this stand echo those found in Qur'anic manuscripts.
DishSecond half of hegira 9th century / AD 15th centuryMamlukThe British Museum
London, England, United Kingdom
Here an astonishingly complex overall design combines arabesque motifs with scrolls and tiny floral details.
BasinAbout hegira 676 / AD 1277–8AyyubidVictoria and Albert Museum
London, England, United Kingdom
On this basin the harmonious, large-scale arabesque frieze counterbalances the monumental quality of the marble.
Decorative panelHegira 6th century / AD 12th century, perhaps around AH 550 / AD 1155FatimidMuseum of Islamic Art at the Pergamon Museum
Berlin, Germany
The versatility of arabesque compositions made them perfect for the decoration of Islamic interiors.