I had a query recently about the source of an image of a tessellated mosaic panel from the Alhambra that appeared in a recent post of this blog. (Thirty-Sixth Post: Mosaics of the Islamic World) The query came from an architect and teacher from Buenos Aires and I had to pause to think where this image originally came from.
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| Tessellated Mosaic Panel in Moroccan Style |
I pasted the URL of the photo into Google Image Search and while checking the results I discovered an extraordinary web resource of images of patterns in Islamic Art. The website is aptly titled Pattern in Islamic Art. It contains over four thousand images and includes many of the tessellated mosaic panels that are so dear to artists, architects and art teaches. Looking at these images I recalled a recent visit to the the Metropolitan Museum of Art's New Galleries for the Art of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and Later South Asia. A long title for some very beautiful galleries that opened, after extensive renovation, on November 1, 2011. The renovations included work by Moroccan Craftsmen. I had an opportunity to visit these galleries shortly after they opened and here is a small sample of photos that I took of the gorgeous art on
display there.
Patterns R Us, so to speak. The tessellated mosaic patterns come from North Africa. The beautiful ceramic tiles and pottery were often made in the Turkish city of Iznik (the Byzantine city of Nicea, of the Nicene Creed fame).
I hope you take the time to explore the images on Pattern in Islamic Art and if the opportunity presents itself, visit the new Islamic Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
George Woideck
George Woideck is a ceramic artist specializing in tile and mosaic. View his work as artist-in-residence at tileandclayart.com . See his recent projects on the Behance Network. Call George at 216 225 0368. Email him at gwoideck@tileandclayart.com.
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| In the Moroccan Tessellated Mosaic Style |
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| Earthenware Plate Influenced by Chinese Porcelain |
Patterns R Us, so to speak. The tessellated mosaic patterns come from North Africa. The beautiful ceramic tiles and pottery were often made in the Turkish city of Iznik (the Byzantine city of Nicea, of the Nicene Creed fame).
I hope you take the time to explore the images on Pattern in Islamic Art and if the opportunity presents itself, visit the new Islamic Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
George Woideck
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