Architectural Fragment
Ilkhanid dynasty (1256–1353), 13th century
Medium
Limestone with carved decoration
Dimensions
72.6 × 12.2 × 77.5 cm (28 9/16 × 4 13/16 × 29 3/4 in.)
Classification
marble
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
60898
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Architectural Fragment hails from the Ilkid dynasty (12561353), a 13th-century Mongol-ruled era in Persia that fused Islamic, Persian, and Central Asian influences. Carved from limestone, this substantial piece—measuring 72.6 × 12.2 × 77.5 cm—likely once adorned a grand mosque, madrasa, or palace, showcasing the era's mastery of stonework in architectural embellishment. Ilkhanid art flourished under patrons like the Mongol khans, who embraced Islam and sponsored lavish building projects. The fragment's intricate carved decoration exemplifies Islamic ornamental traditions: rhyth...
About the Artist
Islamic
Islamic art, a profound visual tradition originating in the 7th century CE, flourished across vast territories from Spain to India under Muslim rule, encompassing architecture, ceramics, manuscripts, textiles, and metalwork produced by diverse artisans rather than a single named master. Drawing from pre-Islamic Sasanian, Byzantine, and late antique influences, its early development under the Umayy...