Oxford historian Dr. Janina Ramirez challenges ex-forger Shaun Greenhalgh with his most difficult task yet: carving an Islamic bottle out of rock crystal in the style of the 10th-century Egyptian Fatimids. Rock crystal is notoriously fragile, and sourcing the right quantities is almost impossible. However, the real problems begin when the carving starts...
Waldemar Januszczak’s mini-documentary delves into the fascinating world of an ex-forger as they take on the intricate challenge of recreating an Islamic bottle. The film highlights the technical expertise required in the crafting process and offers an in-depth exploration of the historical techniques used by Islamic artisans. It sheds light on the cultural and artistic significance of such artefacts, emphasising their role in history and the legacy of Islamic craftsmanship. Through the lens of this recreation, the documentary provides insights into the broader field of art forgery, the fine line between imitation and originality. The narrative also examines the meticulous attention to detail necessary to achieve authenticity and how this process serves as a tribute to the original creators of these masterpieces. It makes you question how these craftsmen from Muslim Civilisation achieved such artistry and technology without the use of modern tools.
From Ibn Al-Haytam’s optical lenses to a mosque lamp of Amir Qawsun, Muslim Civilisation played a major role in inspiring the growth of the glass industry. Mosques, houses and cities were transformed into centres of…
As in all civilisations, great use was made of pottery, for cooking, lighting, washing, etc. In the bazaar in Cairo, grocers, druggists and ironmongers provided the glasses, the faience vessels and the paper to hold…
Oxford historian Dr. Janina Ramirez challenges ex-forger Shaun Greenhalgh with his most difficult task yet: carving an Islamic bottle out of rock crystal in the style of the 10th-century Egyptian Fatimids. Rock crystal is notoriously…
Some people, unaware of what was accomplished during Muslim civilisation, believe that astronomy died with the Greeks, and was brought to life again by Nicolas Copernicus, the 15th-century Polish astronomer who is famous for introducing…
Along the road from sympathetic magic and shamanism to scientific method, much trailblazing was carried out over a few centuries by scholars, alchemists, physicians and polymaths of the Muslim Middle East, and their rules, procedures…
We need a visual presentation to understand things better as the saying goes "A picture is worth a thousand words". Some still think Muslim Civilisation did little contribution to science, even there many books and…
The first stone was laid on July 16, 2008 at the Louvre's new Arts of Islam gallery. With this initiative, France's famous Museum is readying to receive its groundbreaking Islamic section that will showcase the…
The Islamic architectural heritage of the Ottomans in Sarajevo experienced significant fluctuations, particularly following the Ottomans' exit from Bosnia in 1878 and the subsequent Austro-Hungarian occupation. In the later stages, the Islamic character of the…
1001 Inventions Celebrates Ibn Al-Haytham at Manchester’s Iconic Central Library
In a clear and concise language, Mark Graham endeavours to show in his book How Islam Created the Modern World the decisive influence of the civilisation of Islam in setting the stage for the modern…
The following article by the expert scholar Lutfallah Gari surveys the historical sources to uncover the ancient history of the invention of spectacles. To the question "where and when were they invented?", and after a…
Most educational systems, particularly those of Western countries, teach that industry was born in Europe and that the Industrial Revolution was the mother that delivered industrial mass production. Salim Al-Hassani, Chairman of FSTC and eminent…
Conceived and developed in collaboration with the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Inspired by the East: how the Islamic world influenced Western art includes generous loans from their extensive collection of Islamic and Orientalist art. The exhibition…
Throughout history, trade routes played a central role in the transfer of goods and exchange of ideas between different parts of the world. The historic Silk Roads, which were a network of trade routes across…
Until recently, the mainstream history of scientific ideas has failed to acknowledge numerous Islamic scientists and their great efforts and achievements throughout the centuries. This short article seeks to contribute in redressing this injustice by…
Sana'a is one of the oldest cities of Yemen, indeed one of the oldest in the World, dating back to the Sabean dynasty. Earliest references to its existance date back to the 1st Century AD…
Experiment is what differentiates science of Muslim Civilisation from Greek speculation (called science). Experiment began with the Muslims, centuries before the likes of Grosseteste.
This exhibition was born out of an idea to showcase some of Middle Temple Library’s lesser-known printed and manuscript codices that embody the presence of the Arabic and Islamic worlds across Europe between the fourteenth…
The Umayyad architectural splendour is experienced in both religious and domestic buildings. At the core of their religious heritage we find the Dome of the Rock, the architectural jewel of Islam and Damascus Mosque, its…
The famous image we find in an Arabic manuscript depicting the "al-faras al-mastuh" (a horse lying on its back) is a clear representative of the degree of progress attained in the Islamic tradition of veterinary…
Discover the golden
age of Muslim civilisation.
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