13th-14th century
Town Cairo,
Africa
Africa
Object qualities
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Objectinterior decoration: Panel
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Type of arts & crafts
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MediumWood; inlaid with carved and plain ivory
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SizeH. 3 5/8 (9.2 cm) W. 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm) D. 9/16 in. (1.4 cm)
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Geography detailsAttributed to
Town Cairo,
Africa -
Country today
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Date13th-14th century
Source of information
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Type of sourceDatabase “Metropolitan Museum of Art”
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Fund that the source refers toMetropolitan Museum of Art
Description
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There are two panels of this design; mirror images of each other (07.236.66 and 07.236.67). They were probably part of the the same object, with other geometric elements filling in the negative space created between the two pieces. The craftsman deliberately used a darker wood for the inlay, both carved and unadorned, to heighten the contrast with the ivory. Apart from the more elaborate arabesque in the ivory, the four-sided wood inlay is carved with a simple tendril. Also worth noting is the way in which the plain ivory strips are laid out to give the impression of two intertwined stars. Similar elements of design are seen in another panel in the collection (07.236.101).