Three fragments of a frieze, red sandstone carved with an inscription in Naskh
Northern India; c. 1200
H: 53; B: 61.5; D: 4.5 cm (26b/2011)
H: 53; B: 59.5; D: 6.5 cm (26a/2011)
H: 53; B 85; D: 5.5 cm (6/2012)
H: 53; B: 59.5; D: 6.5 cm (26a/2011)
H: 53; B 85; D: 5.5 cm (6/2012)
Inventory number 26b/2011, 26a/2011 & 6/2012
India has an ancient tradition for carving stone that after the Muslim conquests in the course of the 12th century found a new form of expression with the construction of mosques, madrasas, and sepulchral monuments. Their facades and rooms were decorated with monumental friezes with Arabic inscriptions – primarily quotations from the Koran.
In this case, the red sandstone was carved with an admonitory passage from sura 59, verses 18-19: “[Let every soul look to what (provision) He has sent forth for the morrow. Yea, fear Allah: for Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do. And be ye not…”
The words in the cursive script intertwine organically in several levels over and under one another, and in a few places, a palmette shoots out into the inscription panel from the flat frame.
In this case, the red sandstone was carved with an admonitory passage from sura 59, verses 18-19: “[Let every soul look to what (provision) He has sent forth for the morrow. Yea, fear Allah: for Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do. And be ye not…”
The words in the cursive script intertwine organically in several levels over and under one another, and in a few places, a palmette shoots out into the inscription panel from the flat frame.
