Panel

Art Historical Context

This exquisite wooden panel, dated precisely to 1296, exemplifies the masterful craftsmanship of medieval Islamic art. Carved and inlaid with materials—likely ivory, bone, or mother-pearl—the slim rectangle (just 4 5/8 inches high 14 3/8 inches wide) reveals the sophistication of woodworkers from the late 13th century, a period marked by the rise of theamluk dynasty in Egypt and Syria. Such panels often adorned doors, furniture, or architectural elements in mosques and palaces, blending utility with opulent decoration. The technique of carving and inlay, known as *tarkib* or *tarsia* in Islam...