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Tombstone in the Form of an Architectural Niche

dated 753 AH/1352 CE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 455
Incorporating various styles of calligraphic script within its representation of an architectural niche, this tombstone is of historical as well as aesthetic interest. The text of its geometricizing kufic inscriptions include the profession of faith known as the Shahada and passages from the Qur'an. The curvilinear cursive inscriptions provide clues to its history. In the middle framing band are the name and titles of Shaikh Mahmud ibn Sada Muhammad, a leader of a religious brotherhood who "left this world" on the fourth of Muharram 753 / February 21, 1352. The artist’s signature, partly legible as "Niza[m] . . . Shihab," is in the area below the niche.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Tombstone in the Form of an Architectural Niche
  • Date: dated 753 AH/1352 CE
  • Geography: Made in Iran, Yazd
  • Medium: Marble; carved
  • Dimensions: H. 32 3/4 in. (83.2 cm)
    W. 21 3/4 in. (55.3 cm)
    D. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm)
    Wt. 137 lbs. (62.1 kg)
  • Classification: Stone
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1935
  • Object Number: 35.120
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

Audio

Cover Image for 6708. Tombstone in the form of an Architectural Niche

6708. Tombstone in the form of an Architectural Niche

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STEFAN HEIDEMANN: This tombstone is probably part of a larger architectural construction. And in this tombstone, we find at least three different forms of Arabic script. And it shows all the… artistic skills which is possible to do in calligraphy.

NARRATOR: Look around the outer edge to see one of those three styles. The outer rim is carved in Kufic script, combined with a trail of ornaments. Moving inwards, the next band of calligraphy is done in cursive script. Despite being carved into stone, this script looks as spontaneous and flowing as if it were written in ink.

STEFAN HEIDEMANN: And the center is done in a very stylized form of script called square Kufi, where the script is geometrically set into the frame. Probably this kind of Arabic script comes from monumental buildings… built with bricks. This tombstone is a tombstone of a Sufi sheik. He lived in the center of Iran in the city of Yazd. And the tombstone also says when he passed away: exactly on the 4th of Muharram of the year 753, which is in Common Era February 21st, 1352.

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