AH 142: Representation of Animals in Islamic Art

Brocche-recipienti ornitomorfi

ceramica non invetriata e dipinta

Afghanistan, VIII-XII sec. d.C.

The representation of animals in Islamic art reveals an assortment of naturalistic body parts and repeated geometric patterns. The animals depicted are mostly birds, lions and horses, used as decorative elements for plates, bowls, vases, floors or architecture. Each figure retains its natural shape and has a certain set of recurring patterns, uniformly distributed across the surface of its body. Moreover, the animal images decorating ceramic bowls are frequently combined with human characters, illustrating an event such as a hunt or a particular procession. Some of the vases and drinking bowls are even made in the shape of an actual animal (eg.bird), still incorporating different patterns painted over the objects. However, the great variety of figural motifs used imposes a high stylization of the animals presented, increasing the vivacity of the art works. In addition, the Islamic art also includes depiction of fantastic figures composed of animal bodies and human heads. This suggests a certain relation to mythology and creative exploitation of the artistic patterns and forms used. Eventually, all of these features reveal the Islamic unique approach to art, entailing a dynamic, but yet completely balanced representation of motifs and animals in particular.