Islamic Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Islamic Art - Essay Example The wealth and material opulence enjoyed by Fatimid Egypt and Syria during this epoch are also reflected in the magnificence of the art. The Fatimids palpably had a taste for scrupulously made-up gold work and intricately engraved vessels of rock crystal, a type of transparent, colorless quartz whose surface can be brilliantly burnished. Islamic art is often defined in art books as being an art whose borders are not geographical but theological. This style of art called Islamic was formed in many diverse geographic regions whose different cultures were amalgamated through the religion of Islam. Under the Fatimids ceramics and glass working were also highly developed art forms. Artisans of this period revitalized or sustained earlier techniques but gave them their own distinguishing stamp. Islamic pottery from has a long folklore, its establishment is in Prehistoric Iran. The early ceramics, though not as complicated as they would afterward become, replicate a magnificent feeling for design, with a folk art quality. The merchandise during this time consisted largely of bowls, plates and dishes made of soft reddish pottery that was enclosed in a white slip and painted in bright colors. Another attribute of Islamic ceramics from Persia are the Nishapur bowls decorated in yellow, black, green and purple, with delightful Persian motifs. Proof of the depiction of human and animal figures materialize in frescoes, metalwork and miniature painting all the way through the Islamic period, but as a statute they were not allowed in religious buildings. The Islamic world experienced many changes and shifts of supremacy, as different groups fought for domination. The different authorities and foundations included Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Mesopotamian and Chinese. Chinese earthenware and porcelain arrived at the Near East as early as 800 A.D and their various merchandise continued to stir and sway Islamic potters. The white glaze used by the Islamic potters was initiated as an outcome of their aspiration to replicate the Chinese white porcelain. Regardless of the many alterations, the immense diversity and ingenuity of ideas helped Islamic arts to prosper. The Abbasid reign and the Fatimids During the Abbasid reign, Iranian potters achieved amazing accomplishment in their art and their products revealed such affluence of pattern, affection of color, and beauty of design as were never seen earlier. Generally designs were painted under a translucent glaze or over an opaque one. In the earlier case, the work of art was typically over white or dark slips. The Abbasid pottery techniques were further transferred to the Fatimids. Fatimids have indeed put great effort in their art work thereby under the Fatimids ceramics and glass working was highly developed art form. Artisans of this period revived or continued earlier techniques but gave them their own distinctive stamp. The art of painted ceramics was likely introduced in Egypt at least by the early eleventh century and from there on it excelled to the European world. Fatimid ceramics are typically garlanded with figures, both human and animal, as for illustration a bowl with four golden fish alternating with a caption repe ating the word prosperity, on an opaque turquoise ground2. Lustre