ticketsMember | Make a donation

Calligraphic Roundel, inscribed "Ya 'Aziz" (Oh Mighty)

late 16th–early 17th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 463
Decorative roundels are found in the spandrels of arches on many buildings in the Deccan, but those with calligraphic decoration only appear in mosques and tombs. The inscription on this roundel reads "Ya 'Aziz" (O Mighty), one of the ninety-nine names of God in the Islamic tradition. Each phrase is first written vertically and then in mirror image to form a decorative unit that is repeated eight times around the roundel.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Calligraphic Roundel, inscribed "Ya 'Aziz" (Oh Mighty)
  • Date: late 16th–early 17th century
  • Geography: Attributed to India, Deccan, Hyderabad
  • Medium: Sandstone; carved, traces of pigment
  • Dimensions: D. 1 3/16 in. (3 cm)
    Diam. 18 1/2 in. (47 cm)
    Wt. 10 lbs. (4.5 kg)
  • Classification: Stone
  • Credit Line: Edward Pearce Casey Fund, 1985
  • Object Number: 1985.240.1
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Inscriptional Panel from a Mosque, Basalt
Inscriptional Panel from a Mosque
late 16th–17th century
Pierced Window Screen (Jali), Red sandstone; pierced, carved
Pierced Window Screen (Jali)
second half 16th century
Dagger with Hilt in the Form of a Blue Bull (Nilgai), Hilt: Nephrite<br/>Blade: Watered steel
Dagger with Hilt in the Form of a Blue Bull (Nilgai)
ca. 1640
Fragment of a Cornice with a Frieze of Masks, Sandstone
Fragment of a Cornice with a Frieze of Masks
15th–early 16th century
Pierced Window Screen (Jali), Red sandstone; pierced, carved
Pierced Window Screen (Jali)
second half 16th century

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 6

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.