“Sovereignty belongs to God” is the inscription on this bracelet, spelled out in grains of gold, intertwined with floral scrolls, and adorned with filigree.
Little remains of the rich legacy of early Islamic jewelry, but what has survived demonstrates its great quality. The Fatimids (909–1176) ruled Tunisia, Egypt, and Syria for two hundred years and commissioned luxury objects of exquisite workmanship. This bracelet, made in Syria, illustrates the heights achieved by the Fatimid goldsmith.
Little remains of the rich legacy of early Islamic jewelry, but what has survived demonstrates its great quality. The Fatimids (909–1176) ruled Tunisia, Egypt, and Syria for two hundred years and commissioned luxury objects of exquisite workmanship. This bracelet, made in Syria, illustrates the heights achieved by the Fatimid goldsmith.
Details
| Artist | Islamic, Syrian |
|---|---|
| Title |
|
| Date | between 1000 and 1100 |
| Medium | Gold |
| Dimensions | Overall (diam.): 2 3/4 inches (7 cm) Overall (diam. through hinged lock): 1 1/4 inches (3.2 cm) |
| Credit Line | Gift of Mrs. Roscoe B. Jackson |
| Accession Number | 26.15 |
| Department | Islamic Art |
| On View | Islamic N120, Level 1 (see map) |
Signed, Marks, Inscriptions
| Inscriptions | Inscribed, near hinge, on both sides, Kufic script, probably: al-mulk li'llah [translated: Sovereignty is God's] |
|---|
Provenance
Mrs. Roscoe B. Jackson;
1926-present, gift to the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)
1926-present, gift to the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)
Published References
The Heritage of Islam, Pattern and Precision, National Committee: Islam Centennial Fourteen, 1982, object list no. 178.
Henshaw, Julia P., ed. A Visitors Guide: The Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, 1995, p. 128 (ill.).
Henshaw, Julia P., ed. A Visitors Guide: The Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, 1995, p. 128 (ill.).
