Remarkable though they seem, the projecting budlike forms on this object have parallels in ninth-century Samarra’ stuccoes and tenth-century stucco decoration in the Syrian monastery in Wadi an-Natrun, Egypt. The grape leaves in the archlike compartments are of classical derivation by way of the Samarra’ school of stucco carving. This panel probably formed a cornicelike termination to the upper part of a wall.

Open full-size image