HISTORY

A Historical Look at Islamic Geometric Design

For more information about Khirbat al-Mafjar (or Hisham's palace), please visit:
metmuseum.orgbritannica.comancient.eu
For more information about Qasr al-Mshatta, please visit:
metmuseum.org

Circles & Lines

For more information about Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, please visit:
metmuseum.org

North African & Spanish Tiles

Tools

Motifs

Symmetry

inspiration

Below are examples of different styles and uses of mosaic tiles:

Tile Panel
Tile Panel

Spain (Seville). 1525-1550
Earthenware: underglaze-painted in
blue and overglaze-painted in luster
48.168, Shangri La, Honolulu, Hawaii

Star Tile with Cranes
Star Tile with Cranes

Iran (Kashan). 1200s - early 1300s
Stonepaste: overglaze-painted in
luster, underglaze-painted in cobalt
48.399, Shangri La, Honolulu, Hawaii

Window
Window

Iran, 19th century
Glass, wood
46.4, Shangri La, Honolulu, Hawaii

Plate
Plate

Syria, 14th Century
Glass; free blown, enamel
91.1.1533, Department of Islamic Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY

Mausoleum Doors
Mausoleum Doors

Iran, 16th Century
Wood with ivory inlay
61.297, The Walters Art Museum Baltimore, MD

Pair of Minbar Doors
Pair of Minbar Doors

Egypt, 14th Century
Wood
91.1.2064, Department of Islamic Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY