Pendant, 11th century; Fatimid
Egypt
Gold, cloisonné enamel; 1 3/4 x 1 3/8 in. (4.5 x 3.5 cm)
The Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915 (30.95.37)
Egypt
Gold, cloisonné enamel; 1 3/4 x 1 3/8 in. (4.5 x 3.5 cm)
The Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915 (30.95.37)
Few works with enamels have survived from the early Islamic period. The fabrication of this pendant is typical of Fatimid goldsmiths' craftsmanship: boxlike construction, gold stringing loops, openwork design with a strip support, S-shaped filler elements, and paired twisted wires. The enamels had to be secured to the back with an adhesive after the object was finished.














