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Lot Essay
The inscription states that this is the tomb of Muhammad ibn Ahmad, with no date.
Two very similar panels have been published. One is now in the National Museum, Qatar ("Art from the World of Islam", Louisiana Revy, vol.27, no.3, March 1987, no.11, p.65); the other, more fragmentary than the present gravestone, is in the Islamic Art Museum, Berlin (Brisch, Kalus et al.: Islamische Kunst in Berlin, Berlin, 1962m no.212, p.64, pl.36). All three have a very similar style of kufic, and a feathereed arch springing from pronounced diamonds where the capitals would be. The Berlin example is attributed by Dr. Zick-Nissen to "Nishapur, 10-11th century", while that in Copenhagen by Dr David James to "Syria or Iraq, 9th-10th century".
Two very similar panels have been published. One is now in the National Museum, Qatar ("Art from the World of Islam", Louisiana Revy, vol.27, no.3, March 1987, no.11, p.65); the other, more fragmentary than the present gravestone, is in the Islamic Art Museum, Berlin (Brisch, Kalus et al.: Islamische Kunst in Berlin, Berlin, 1962m no.212, p.64, pl.36). All three have a very similar style of kufic, and a feathereed arch springing from pronounced diamonds where the capitals would be. The Berlin example is attributed by Dr. Zick-Nissen to "Nishapur, 10-11th century", while that in Copenhagen by Dr David James to "Syria or Iraq, 9th-10th century".