The art of calligraphy on a dried leaf, was practised widely in Ottoman Turkey. This was difficult & delicate work. The leaf was dried, & the tissue removed to leave the skeletal membrane, with gold ink applied over it.
For Ramadan, here are 20 exquisite examples…
A thread…
1/ Calligraphy Leaf
Ottoman Turkey
19th century
Golden calligraphy on a tree leaf from the Ottoman Era
Many featured verses written from the Qu’ran, Hadith prayers and poetry.
Chestnut leaf inscribed with a Qur’anic verse from Surat al-Isra’ (“The Night Journey,” Q17:80), which reads: “And say, ‘Lord grant me a good entrance and a goodly exit, and sustain me with Your power.”
Arabic composition applied on to a natural leaf in gold, the text in the form of a lion incorporating verses praising the Imam 'Ali by al-Sherif al-Murtaza
Arabic composition applied onto a natural leaf in gold, the text incorporating the Bismallah and invocations to God and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) within a stylised Sufi cap
Arabic composition applied onto a natural leaf in gold, the text incorporating the words Allah, Angels, the Prophets, the Day of Judgment in the form of a sailing boat with seven oars, one for each of the Seven Sleepers
A rare calligraphic composition in gold on a large natural leaf incorporating the hilyeh, the physical attributes of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) signed by Muhammad Helmi, a pupil of Mustafa Izzet Effendi
Text of the Bismallah (‘In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful’) is made to fit inside the natural shape of the leaf. The vertical strokes of the letters follow the line of the stem of the leaf
Arabic composition applied onto a natural leaf in gold. During this period, Ottoman calligraphers were interested in producing compositions which took various shapes.
For #StarWarsDay here is the awesome work of @_Muratpalta who illustrates iconic movies in Ottoman miniature style.
‘Ottoman Star Wars’ is one of his most renowned works #MayThe4thBeWithYou
A thread on @_Muratpalta Ottoman miniature take on movies…
1/ Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, Ottoman Miniature Style @_Muratpalta
A 1971 fantasy film which tells the story of a poor child named Charlie Bucket who, after finding a Golden Ticket in a chocolate bar, visits Willy Wonka's chocolate factory with four other children
As you probably guessed, this work depicts the final moments of Scarface (1983), where Tony Montana takes revenge on a team of assassins who have infiltrated his lavish compound
Arabic has many names and epithets for the lion. Almost all are poetic and rarely used outside of literary texts and proper names. The only generic word for lion is أسد (asad), lioness is لبؤة (labu'ah) & cub is شبل (shibl.)
Shah-i-Zinda is one Samarkand’s most beloved sites, which contains some of the richest tile work in the world. The magnificent architecture draws inspiration from multiple periods & styles, taking you back through time & across cultures
A thread on the beauty of Shah-i-Zinda…
1/ The Shah-i-Zinda ensemble includes mausoleums, mosques & other ritual buildings of 11-15th & 19th centuries. The name Shah-i-Zinda (meaning The living king) is connected with the legend that Qutham ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH is buried here
📷 Ash Diler
2/ Shah-i-Zinda is a world-famous example of a continuously constructed historical site. Over 1,000 years ago, it was founded with a single religious monument. Between the 11th & 19th centuries, mosques & mausoleums were continuously added
Ismail al-Jazari, a Muslim inventor from the 12th century is known as the "father of robotics" due to his groundbreaking work in the field of automata, which are self-operating machines.
A thread on Ismail al-Jazari, engineering & robotics…
1/ While robotics is considered a relatively new field of science, with the public’s consensus that it is the creation of 20th-century scientists, it would be surprising to know that the field has its roots in the medieval era nearly a millennium ago, with Ismail Al Jazari
2/ Ismail Al Jazari gained fame for his extraordinary inventions, encompassing a wide spectrum of marvels. His repertoire included robots programmed to provide guests with towels, programmable on-off switches for fountains, automated mechanical clocks & much more!
A Candle Clock from a copy of al-Jazaris treatise on automata
The Grande Mosquée de Paris was built as a tribute to the Muslim soldiers who fought for France in World War I.
Within the mosque, there is a beautiful courtyard garden filled with various plants, including the enchanting wisteria which blooms every spring…
A thread…
1/ The Grande Mosquée de Paris, also known as the Mosque of Paris is located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, France. It was constructed between 1922 and 1926 and is one of the largest mosques in France
2/ The mosque is renowned for its stunning architecture, which combines elements of Islamic and Moorish styles.
Contemporary Islamic architecture is redefining perceptions of tradition in a modern global world.
Here are 15 contemporary examples of Islamic architecture from around the world, that highlight innovative uses of forms & materials through context and locality
A thread…
1/ Cologne Central Mosque, Germany
The largest & grandest mosque in Germany. Cologne mosque is now regarded as a symbol of integration & symbol of the birth of German mosque architecture. The futuristic mosque is mainly characterized by the large dome.
1.1/ Cologne Central Mosque, Germany
Completed in 2017, it can accommodate 1200 worshippers. It is the largest mosque in Germany. The main prayer hall is as striking harmonious blend of modern and tradition