Inscribed Panel

mid-17th century

Not on view

Stating bismillah al-rahman al-rahim (“In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful”), this plaque might have begun the dedicatory inscription of a mosque. The inscriptions in the famous Gol Gumbaz tomb in Bijapur are similarly composed, with words appearing above and below a central line, here created by the horizontal extension of the letter “h” in al-rahim, in a loose and energetic thuluth script. Technically, creating the inscription involved chipping away the surface of the stone around each letter, the contrasting surface of the stone resulting in different shades of gray for the foreground and background. It is a simple effect, but one that allows the words to be read easily.

Artwork Details

Title: Inscribed Panel
Date: mid-17th century
Geography: Attributed to Golconda
Medium: Basalt; carved
Dimensions: H. 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm)
W. 38 in. (96.5 cm)
D. 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm)
Classification: Stone
Credit Line: Gift of James Ivory, in memory of Ismail Noormohammed Merchant, 2024
Object Number: 2024.595a, b
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

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

Goa Stone and Gold Case, Container: gold; pierced, repoussé, with cast legs and finials<br/>Goa stone: compound of organic and inorganic materials — Goa Stone and Gold Case
late 17th–early 18th century

Archer's Ring, Nephrite — Archer's Ring
17th century

Bowl with Acanthus Leaf Handles, Nephrite — Bowl with Acanthus Leaf Handles
18th century

Garden Gathering, Stonepaste; painted and polychrome glazed (cuerda seca technique) — Garden Gathering
1640–50

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.