Product Description
Provides an in-depth and diverse suvery of 1,400 years of art and architecture from ornate mosques and pottery, to calligraphy, carpets and costume ... Read more

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* The classic study of the cosmological principles found in the patterns of Islamic art and how they relate to sacred geometry and the perennial philosophy.* 150 color and black-and-white drawings of Islamic patterns.* Explains how these patterns guide the mind from the mundane world of appearances to its underlying reality.

For centuries the nature and meaning of Islamic art has been wrongly regarded in the West as mere decoration. In truth, because the portrayal of human and animal forms has always been discouraged on Islamic religious principles that forbid idolatry, the abstract art of Islam represents the sophisticated development of a nonnaturalistic tradition. Through this tradition, Islamic art has maintained its chief aim: the affirmation of unity as expressed in diversity.

In this fascinating study the author explores the idea that unlike medieval Christian art, in which the polarization of such forms and patterns was relegated to a background against which to set sacred images, the geometrical patterns of Islamic art can reveal the intrinsic cosmological laws affecting all creation. Their primary function is to guide the mind from the mundane world of appearances toward its underlying reality.

Numerous drawings connect the art of Islam to the Pythagorean science of mathematics, and through these images we can see how an Earth-centered view of the cosmos provides renewed significance to those number patterns produced by the orbits of the planets. The author shows the essential philosophical and practical basis of every art creation--whether a tile, carpet, or wall--and how this use of mathematical tessellations affirms the essential unity of all things. An invaluable study for all those interested in sacred art, Islamic Patterns is also a rich source of inspiration for artists and designers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Islamic Patterns
I am very happy with Islamic Patterns and the way it was delivered, no hassles

the complex designs of Islamic art and architecture deciphered
El-Said writes about the designs seen in a lot of Islamic art and architecture with a scientific precision. What he does is isolate the fundamental, simplest forms--the building blocks--of the Islamic art, and explain and demonstrate how artists and artisans built on these (as one might build on the basic pieces of an erector set) and manipulate these by turning them this way and that to create the incredibly complex geometric patterns. Sometimes as filigree, sometimes as a part of a structure such as a dome or panel, and sometimes a structural element, such patterns are a prime feature by which Islamic art is recognized. El-Said died in 1988 at the age of 50, before he could put the final touches on his outstanding study of the Islamic geometric designs. The two editors are experts in Islamic art and architecture who have compiled and organized El-Said's work for this book. El-Said's previous book Geometric Concepts on Islamic Art published in 1976 was a source of guidance for this book.

The geometric designs are an ancient art who beginnings El-Said, among others, has traced to Egyptian Pharaonic dynasties and Mesopotamian city-states of the third millennium B.C. The precision comes not from astronomical phenomena or scientific instruments, but from "elaborate rules of mensuration" involving signifying numbers, multiplication, division, geometrical forms, and other elements. Operations within these and combinations of them could grow very complex; but they could always be broken down into elementary factors and basic functions. The ancient Islamic architects and artists were both inspired and bound by the systems of mensuration. The palaces, temples, monuments, and other buildings they made were paragons for following generations. Thus while there is an almost infinite variation in the designs because the rules of the classical mensuration were so elaborate, the reliance on the elementary geometric forms gives a superficial resemblance to all the designs. The uniqueness of an Islamic design is in its details; not in any experimental, sensational, or idiosyncratic composition or effects as in Western modernist art for example.

Although the principles of the geometric design have remained basically the same for centuries, there have been only a handful of works explaining and discussing these principles in an analytic and demonstrative way such as El-Said does. El-Said's book is outstanding for its lucidity and pithiness. The large portion of many pages are illustrations of the principles of geometric design by diagrams of how designs are formed from the fundamental forms and mathematical functions. These diagrams look something like the diagrams of chemical compounds seen in chemistry textbooks or pictures of snowflakes. This combination of lucid text and instructive visual matter make this an outstanding book for learning about the geometric design. What one learns applies to Islamic architecture and art throughout history and in different geographical areas.

A wonderful tool
this book is really a wonderful tool for us to start recongnizing and understanding the fabric of life, and theenergy fields that are encoded in Islamic art.
In fact the patterns are present also in other cultures so this book is about the archetypes of creation, the sacred geometries that remind us that the whole inhabits the parts - the undeniable spark that connects all life together. Neatly illustrates the flower of life matrix and its manifestations
For the maths lovers, also a lot on magic squares.
Very well explained in text and wonderfully illustrated. I have mine in an old edition and keep buying as a gift for friends - it's a jewel, Keith Critchlow is a name I respect.

Unreadable Prose, Helpful Drawings
The book is well-nigh unreadable.Page after page of impenetrable prose in dense, closely spaced paragraphs, describing complex geometric figures.It is also unsourced: one cannot determine the basis for the author's cosmological, religious and geometric speculations.However, the drawings -- and there are many -- are worth the price.Very helpful to the artist or designer who wishes to understand and incorporate Islamic patterns.

The Source
If you want to know the brains behind Islamic Art, this is the book.It begins with one point and then moves.... ... Read more

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The Arab tradition of al-furusiyya is defined by principles of horsemanship, chivalry, and the mutual dependence of man and horse. This publication presents half of the Furusiyya Art Foundation’s entire collection, which includes Islamic art relating to the Muslim chevalier from the eighth, ninth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries. The collection includes a number of cane shields, archery material, armor for man and horse, sword pommels, guards and sabers, as well as daggers and belts carried by the courtly chevaliers. Describing the artistry and beauty of the antique pieces, the focus narrows in on the use of decoration and great craftsmanship, the technological innovations that were developed, as well as looking at the different cultures of the Islamic world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Highly recommended!
One of the best books ever produced on the subject. Its very well written and photos of the weapons are one of the best I have ever seen. I suggest anyone interested on the subject should have a look, its a must read without a doubt!

Marvelous resource
This is a beautifully illustrated tome depicting the various arms and armor used by Muslim knights throughout the centuries and over vast geographic regions.I saw a portion of the arms depicted in this book at an exhibit in Paris, France at the Institut du Monde Arabe in 2007.I am pleased that this volume is written in English, so I do not have to struggle with translating as I did in the museum.

This book is a marvelous resource for anyone interested in medieval weaponry. ... Read more

Product Description
Clear diagrams and a detailed explanatory text: an inspirational guide for craftspeople and artists everywhere. Includes a CD-ROM.

The marvels of Islamic patterns—the most recognizable visual expression of Islamic art and architecture—are not just a beautiful accident. The ancient practitioners of this craft used traditional methods of measurement to create dazzling geometric compositions, often based on the repetition of a single pattern. The results are magnificent in their beauty and awe-inspiring in their execution.

Now, with the aid of this book, everyone can learn how to master this ancient art and create their own intricate patterns or re-create classic examples. All one needs are a pencil, a ruler, a compass, and a steady hand. First, technical tips demonstrate the basics: how to draw a square, hexagon, or pentagon. This is followed by some of the best examples of geometric patterns from around the world, arranged into three levels of complexity, with careful, step-by-step instructions.

The book features geometric patterns from some of the most famous and beautiful Islamic architecture and art, including:
• La Mezquita, Cordoba
• Capella Palatina, Sicily
• Mustansiriya Madrasa, Baghdad
• Umayyad Mosque, Damascus
• Mosque of al-Salih Tala'I, Cairo
• The Koran of Rashid al-Din ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Just right
This book will give you the tools you need to draw some of the intricate Islamic geometric patterns. What more did you want?

Clearly written and fun
I write instructional materials for geometry projects using Google SketchUp, and I got this book on Amazon's recommendation (I guess I get a lot of geometry books!) I wanted to try and then teach these patterns to students, and though the book assumes the reader is using a straight edge and ruler, the instructions make it very easy to create these patterns in SketchUp as well. Of course, SketchUp has the added bonus of including color, too. This book will keep me happily busy for many hours!

Perfect for Student Instruction
This is the best book I've found on the subject, and I have three. The written instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the CD includes photographs of the original art, watercolor paintings, templates to use as the basis of the patterns, and best of all, step by step instruction to create all the patterns. I use it with my sixth and eighth graders with great success.

Great How-To Guide
Excellent step-by-step illustrations of how to go about creating these patterns with compass and ruler.

Draw your own Islamic designs
This book has previously been hard to find.I was willing to buy it in Dutch but found it almost impossible to obtain.It is now also in English and Farsi.It is a primer on how Islamic patterns can be drawn by the modern artist or illustrator.It includes a CD-ROM which worked on my MacBook so It probably is compatible with most computers.There are beautiful examples or architectural design motifs and various things from all the Islamic world.If you like this kind of art this is a very good book on it and well worth the very inexpensive price. ... Read more

Product Description
This book accompanies an exhibition presenting the architects' models of the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar and a selection of the future museum's masterpieces. It contains information about the project from unpublished interviews with the architects Jean-Michel Wilmotte and Ieoh Ming Pei, along with an essay on Islamic art and the history of this rich collection by Sabiah el-Kemir, who heads the museum project for Qatar, and entries about the 42 selected works.

The objects chosen for this exhibition aim to show the spirit of the Doha collection which contains thousands of pieces from the 7th century to the present day. As the collection is not yet on public display, the exhibition offers a preview of the future Doha museum. The works are varied and the scope of the exhibition is vast in time and space: the oldest piece date from the 9th century and the most recent from the 17th.

Originating from Spain, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Iran, India and Central Asia, the collection testifies to the richness of the immense Muslim territory which stretched from Cordoba in the west to Samarqand in the east. The catalogue is illustrated with a wide variety of objects, all with the same aesthetic, using ceramics, metal, glass, paper, ivory, gold, emeralds, jade, agate and silk. This set of masterpieces which we now call "Islamic arts" includes everyday utensils which shed light on the cultures of Islam.

While the opening of the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar, is eagerly anticipated, photographs of some of the masterpieces that will be on display may be enjoyed through this book. ... Read more

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Over the course of ten centuries, Islam developed a rich written heritage that is visible in paintings, calligraphies, and manuscripts. The Islamic Manuscript Tradition explores this aspect of Islamic history with studies of the materials and tools of literate culture, including pens, inks, and papers, Qur'ans, Persian and Mughal illustrated manuscripts, Ottoman devotional works, cartographical manuscripts, printed books, and Islamic erotica. Seven essays present new scholarship on a wide range of topics including collection, miniaturization, illustrated devotional books, the history of the printing press in Islamic lands, and the presence and function of erotic paintings. This beautifully produced volume includes 111 color illustrations and provides a valuable new resource for students and scholars of Islamic art.

Product Description
The contributions to arts and culture by early Islamic empires is considerable. This book explores their great works of literature, as well as such artistic works as Arabesque art, calligraphy, mosques and tombs, palaces, weaving, textiles, metalware, pottery, carvings and moulded plaster, and glassware. ... Read more

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This two-part volume is the last of four dedicated to the Qur'ans in the Khalili Collection, and covers the period 1700-1900 and items from Islamic Africa, Ottoman Turkey, Iran, India and the Far East. ... Read more

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Known as an expert on Islam, Sufism, and Islamic arts & crafts, Burckhardt presents in-depth analyses of seminal examples of Islamic architecture, from Spain and Morocco to Persia and India. He examines Koranic calligraphy and illumination, arabesque, carpets and rugs, Persian miniatures, and much more while making illuminating comparisons with Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist art. Beautifully illustrated in color, this masterpiece is presented in a revised, commemorative edition containing 285 new illustrations and a new Introduction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Highly recommended for spirituality and art libraries alike
Titus Burckhardt has written over 20 books on art, religion and spirituality, and his ART OF ISLAM: LANGUAGE AND MEANING is one of his best, packing in over 350 color and black and white illustrations to accompany a historic, spiritual and artistic survey of Islamic art. It was originally published in London in 1976 and appears here fully revised with new illustrations - highly recommended for spirituality and art libraries alike.

Impeccable: Genesis & Spiritual Principles of Islamic Art
Sadly enough this and several other of the author's titles can be difficult to obtain. Nevertheless, "Art of Islam" is possibly the finest book ever written on Islamic Art, not because it says all there isto be said on this vast and fascinating subject but because it says theright things in the right connections. In fact, I've never been able tounderstand why this and Burckhardt's "Fez, City of Islam" and"Moorish Culture in Spain" are missing from literature lists inmany works on Islamic ornaments, architecture and town planning. TitusBurckhardt was a spiritual giant (if the expression be allowed) whose lovefor the sacred art and craft he wrote so much about was like a flameburning in perfect stillness. "Art of Islam" is a blissful andedifying experience even for readers with plenty of foreknowledge on thesubject. Below is a list with some of the topics (not an index) as I foundthem along the reading of the book:

Genesis and history of Islamic art;Nature of sacred art; Sacraments/Liturgy/Sacred art; The propagation ofIslam; Christianism versus Islam; Sufism; Ritual orientation; Structure ofChristian basilicas; Mosques in general and in particular; Supersaturationand crystalization in art; Buddhist art; Migration of Asian art; Byzantineart; Idols and icons; Iconoclasm versus Aniconism; Arabesques andinterlacements; Sacred numbers 5, 6, 8 and 40, the Ka'ba, Dome of the Rock,Arches, Muqarnas, Mihrabs, Minbars, Portals, Persian versus Gothic vaults;Polarity in languages; Arabic, Chinese and other languages; Book art;Arabic calligraphy; Persian miniatures; Literary style of Quran; Prayer;Pre-Islamic Arabs; Reality and painting; Functionalism; Beauty and Reality;Desintegration of Western art; Expressions of Oneness; Ternary in geometry;Qualitative form versus limiting form; Light and shadow; Magic power versusspiritual elegance; Psychological "law of imitation" amongconquered peoples; Government and people; Aristocracy; Public estate; Townplanning; Commercial structures; Regulation of daily life; Family life;Social classes; Knighthood and art; Quranic schools; Priesthood and Clergy;Canonization in the Islamic world; Jurisprudence; Veils, Turbants, Gold,Silk and Art of garments; Carpets; Mughal art; Nomads; Umayyads, Sassanids,Seljuks, Safavids, Timurids and Copts; Virgin Mary; Abraham; Symbolism ofthe loom and of the sword; Necropolises; Pilgrimage to the tombs of saints;and much, much more.

As it says on one of Amazon.com's bookmarks:"The test of literature is, I suppose, whether we ourselves live moreintensely for the reading of it" [E. Drew]. Burckhardt's "Art ofIslam" is definitely not a book to fail this test. ... Read more

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"A visually stunning study...these great illustrations will set a designer's heart on fire."—Interior Design

Islamic calligraphy traditionally took its inspiration from the Muslim belief in the divine origin of Arabic writing. In early Islam the use of Arabic writing is sacred, and official texts gave rise to a wonderful profusion of scripts and a calligraphic tradition that has flourished for over a thousand years—not only in manuscript decoration but also in architecture, ceramics, and painting.

This book provides a comprehensive survey of the subject from its earliest origins to the present day. It explains the geometrical and ornamental principles of calligraphy and examines the interdependence of script and page decoration. Finally, and perhaps most important, it contains outstanding examples of scripts—kufic, thuluth, naskhi, and maghribi—in a series of magnificent reproductions of manuscript pages, paintings, and other works of art. 232 illustrations, 98 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

GOOD ORIENTATION TO ISLAMIC CALLIGRAPHY
Overall a good intro to Islamic Calligraphy. More pictorial examples of Quranic manuscripts would have improved the contents relativity. Purchased it through Amazon's own bookstore - poor packaging - item arrived damaged considerably.

a beautiful book...
This is a beautifully presented book on Islamic Calligraphy. While providing background material and being informative, it also has many and varied examples presented in color. I did not know what to expect when Iordered it, but as soon as I opened it I was bowled over. This is a mustfor anyone who appreciates Islamic art, or for anyone who would like tolearn more of the history behind it.

An informative look at Islamic Calligraphy
This is an informative look at the development of Arabic Calligraphy through the ages and also at the leading figures engaged in its progress throughout the centuries. It has a detailed chronological format for those wishing to us it as a research aid. All round value, especially the calligraphic family tree on the back cover. ... Read more

Product Description
Ceramic tiles have been produced for over a thousand years in the heartlands of the Islamic world, from Iraq in the ninth century to Turkey in the nineteenth. The wealth of designs and colors used to decorate mosques, shrines and palaces later provided inspiration for European artists and designers. This book first explains the various techniques of the craftsmen and then traces the development of tilework, beginning with pre-Islamic tradition, through the major periods and across a wide geographic area. Superb color photographs and informative text make this book a treasure for anyone interested in art and design. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

NO RESPECT FOR TURKISH ART
It is very dissapointing to see an example of an Ýznik tile (Turkish) on the cover of a book under the name "Islamic Tiles". Anyone with the least respect to art, to the very origin of that art and to the country (TURKEY) where that art has flourished should be more selective in choosing a design such symbolic of our country. Either the title or the picture on the book should be changed. Our precious inheritance deserves to be named or used correctly. If knowledge isn't sufficient, please refer to books by dear Nurhan Atasoy or Azade Akar. ART certainly deserves respect and so does nations.

Good history, but no color pictures
This is a good book if what you're looking for is the history and description of Islamic tile styles.I was, however, disappointed that all the illustrations/pictures were in black and white.Bummer.The best partof Islamic tiles, as far as I'm concerned, is the use of color!I washoping for lots of color pictures of Islamic mosques, etc. Nope.Anyway,I guess it's good as an art history book. ... Read more

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Product Description
The Islamic Revolution in Iran was one of those remarkable historical events when the power of words and images successfully challenged the military might of an established state. From the fiery words of Ayatollah Khomeini, the charismatic leader of the Revolution, to revolutionary posters, banners, murals, graffiti, songs, and declamations, to the compelling symbols of its shared sacred history, an avalanche of public sentiments was mobilized by the leading figures of the revolutionary movement.

In Staging Revolution, designed by award-winning Jonathan Barnbrook, Peter Chelkowski and Hamid Dabashi examine how this massive orchestration of public myths and collective symbols propelled the Islamic revolution of 1978-9 and the war with Iraq that followed from 1980 to 1988. Employing a wealth of primary sources from various active organs of the Islamic Republic, the authors demonstrate how popular belief and ritual were converted into stamps, banknotes, posters, even chewing gum wrappers, and directed towards mass mobilization for revolution and war. Staging Revolution represents a remarkable portrait of a pictorial revolution in which the interplay of sacred sensibilities, revolutionary action, and visual imagery were inextricably bound together.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Iranian Political Poster Book (1979-1995)
"Staging a Revolution" itself is a great `revolution' in depicting the complexity in showing the multitude of anti-Shah propaganda posters that were paraded during the 1979 Iranian revolution to depose that country's anemic monarchy.Not only does this book show pictures of dozens of anti-Shah revolutionary posters, but it also shows hundreds of other pictures as to how `Revolutionary Art' sustained the resulting autocratic mullaharchy with posters, stamps, banners, films, chewing-gum wrappers, bank notes and children's' artwork and other iconographic ephemera.Fortunately for us, the book also shows `Revolutionary Art' posters that bolstered the fighting spirits of Iranian soldiers during that country's war against the invading armies from Saddam Hussain's Iraq.Besides merely showing artwork, the author also explains why a reader needs to understand the significance of the Shia-Muslim "Ashura" religious factor: that was used by the clergy in goading the masses to revolt against the unjust `usurper' (the Shah) of the public will.This Shia-cleric instigated revolution wasn't about just overthrowing the monarchy, more importantly, it was about bringing the Ayatollah Khomeini to power to `cleanse' the government.Oh, yes, there are anti-Israel and anti-U.S. posters, also.I cannot give enough lavish praise to this book for its extensively exhausting depiction of Iranian political posters that I am so much interested in. Although of much less fulfillment, one may want to research "Picturing Iran: Art, Society and Revolution" by Shiva Balaghi, and for a broader understanding of the significance of Ashura, see: "The Martyrs of Karbala" by K. Aghaie.

Remarkable Book
Surprised this book was published in 1999 and it took so long for me to find it or even hear about it. It's basically a textbook on the subject matter if you were to take a university course. Very well researched and full of great examples of Iranian political art. My father who was in the streets of Iran in 1979 really dived into the book and was really impressed by the objectivity as well. Thank you to the authors.

Beautiful to look at but try not to read it
Visually, this book is beautifully produced and designed, and a joy to flip through.It's easily one of the very best fusions of contemporary Middle Eastern/Islamic history, politics and art that's been published.The text, though, is some of the densest bunch of lit crit, post-modern gibberish I've come across.Still, the visual half of the book succeeds brilliantly and makes it worth purchasing.

Great book on Iranian Revolution
The authors have created a guide that serves towards understanding the antecedents to the revolution. The photographs, content and level of clarity is remarkable. It is tour de force. If interested in Persian studies, one needs to have it. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Nice designs
This book has great designs, many are difficult though but they inspire me for my ceramic designs.Nice book with a great variety of designs.

Good, well-documented resource
This is a good resource.The sources of the designs are generally given (or at the very least, there's an indication of when/where the design came from).

nice collection
This is an interesting collection but I don't find it too useful for goldwork embroidery. Some of the designs would work if enlarged and simplified.

Nice collection
As a person involved in art and design, I found this book to be helpful.I love the intricate designs and the explanation at the beginning of the book.I have recently implemented them in my artwork and designs.I think any artist or craftsperson would find this a helpful tool.

An excellant source for Arabic designs!
Ms. Wilson presents various elements of Arabic designs drawn mostly inblack and white.She includes instruction for reproducing the designs andcommentary on time periods and original colors used.The only thing thatwould have made this book better would have been pictures of the artifactsshe refers to in her extensive documentation.A must have for anyone doingIslamic or Arabic arts! ... Read more