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Lot Essay
Mamluk wood inscriptions on the massive scale found here are still to be seen in a number of the mosques for which they were made. In particular, inscriptions of this size are found around the edge of the ceiling, as a cornice, or along the top of architectural elements. The mosque of Amir Altinbugha al-Maridani, built in 1339-40 is a good example, with large inscriptions around the edge of the original ceiling, and also along the top of the screen dividing the sanctuary from the main courtyard (Doris Behrens-Abouseif, Cairo of the Mamluks, London, 2007, pp.183-185). A further wood inscription panel from that mosque is in the Islamic Museum, Cairo (Jean David-Weill, Catalogue général du musée arabe du Caire, bois à épigraphes, époques mamelouke et ottomane, Cairo, 1936, no.584, p.20 and pl.VII). The scale of the calligraphy in and its style in both examples is very close to ours, although the panel here is considerably larger than those on the al-Maridani screen.
One feature of the present inscription, which is shared in a number of other Mamluk wood inscriptions, is the extension of the final letter over the edge of the bounding cartouche and into the spandrel. This is found in a number of other inscriptions, notably two written in a similarly strong script, but also more densely interlaced and against a scrolling background that it is suggested may originally have been made for the mosque of the Amir Qawsun built in 729/1329. (David-Weill, op.cit., no. 7851, pls.IV and V).
A carbon date test performed on the present panel by RCD RadioCarbon Dating, (sample RCD-7069), confirms the suggested dating of the panel, giving a 68 probability of a date of 1320-1360 plus 1380-1430, and a 95 probability of 1300-1370 plus 1380-1440.
One feature of the present inscription, which is shared in a number of other Mamluk wood inscriptions, is the extension of the final letter over the edge of the bounding cartouche and into the spandrel. This is found in a number of other inscriptions, notably two written in a similarly strong script, but also more densely interlaced and against a scrolling background that it is suggested may originally have been made for the mosque of the Amir Qawsun built in 729/1329. (David-Weill, op.cit., no. 7851, pls.IV and V).
A carbon date test performed on the present panel by RCD RadioCarbon Dating, (sample RCD-7069), confirms the suggested dating of the panel, giving a 68 probability of a date of 1320-1360 plus 1380-1430, and a 95 probability of 1300-1370 plus 1380-1440.