In the tenth century, most of the Iberian peninsula was ruled by the Muslim Umayyad dynasty. This exquisitely carved cylindrical box is believed to be one of the most accomplished works of a master from the palace of the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Rahman III (r. 912-61). Unlike their Christian counterparts, which held consecrated bread for the Mass, Islamic pyxides were exclusively secular and used to store jewelry and cosmetics. The pairing of birds, lions, and gazelles amid richly carved vine scrolls is typical of dense symmetrical Islamic design, which strongly influenced the decoration of Romanesque ivories and illuminated manuscripts.
