SCRIBE’S CABINET - Aga Khan Museum
Aga Khan Development Network
 
The Aga Khan Museum: Wood and Lacquer - Nasrid, 15th century  Place your mouse over the image
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Classification
Wood and Lacquer

Object name
Scribe’s Cabinet

Geography
al-Andalus

Period
Nasrid, 15th century

Dynasty
Nasrid

Materials and technique
Walnut wood inlaid with bone, metal, wood, and mother-of-pearl

Dimensions
22 x 49 x 33 cm

Accession number
AKM00634

Description

This scribe’s wooden cabinet is a rare survival and an extraordinary example of luxury woodwork production in Spain under the Nasrids (1232-1492). The tradition of inlaying walnut dates back to the Umayyad period in Spain (756-1031), and may be seen in extant mosque minbars (pulpits), doors and a variety of objects. The hallmarks of Nasrid era woodwork include elaborate inlays of ivory, bone, metal, wood and mother-of-pearl. The decorative programme of this cabinet includes large eight-pointed stars formed from interlocking squares; these motifs appear on many of the extant Nasrid wooden pieces in Granada museums and at the Alhambra. The cabinet contains a lidded interior compartment which probably contained writing implements.

Other similar artefacts

21 pieces found

BEAM-WITH-QURANIC-INSCRIPTIONPOLYCHROME-BEAMBEAM-WITH-QURANIC-INSCRIPTIONPANEL-WITH-VERSES-BY-HAFIZBEGGARS-BOWL-KASHKULBOWPEN-BOXTAMBURA-OR-TAMPURABEAM-WITH-QURANIC-INSCRIPTIONPOLYCHROME-DOORSDOORS-WITH-GEOMETRIC-AND-FLORAL-MOTIVESCORBELSCORBELSBeamBEAMBEAMTRIANGULAR-CEILING-PANEL-WITH-INTERLACING-GEOMETRIC-DESIGNSBeamRababTambourines-Daff-and-Naqqar-DrumsViolin-small-lutes-and-Rabab-or-Rewap