Decorated Folio with Kufic Inscription

Unknown

18th–19th century · Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper · Islamic Art

The decorative motifs on this section of a folio were most likely created using a stencil, which the artist then embellished by adding pigments and very minute and fine details. Pages like this would originally have framed paintings, drawings, or samples of calligraphy, which would have been included in an album or manuscript. This part of the page illustrates how folios from Islamic manuscripts were built up with layers of paper, pasted upon one another.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th–19th century

Medium

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Gift of Dr. Marilyn Jenkins-Madina, in loving memory of her husband, Professor Maan Z. Madina, 2019