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Lot Essay
This is a remarkable well preserved example of the capitals carved for the city of Medinat al-Zahra. Not only are the edges very crisp, but there are considerable traces of red pigment which has been used in some of the recesses and also in a line under the upper register.
A number of similar capitals are known, although a close inspection shows that almost all of them differ slightly one from another. The present capital is very similar indeed to a number of examples which can be dated to the reign of Al-Hakam II, one of the best of which, bearing a signature and date, is in the al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait (Jerrilynn D. Dodds (ed.), Al Andalus, New York, 1992, no.39, p.247). Even more similar in terms of decoration and size is one that was excavated at Medinat al-Zahra and is dated to the second half of the tenth century (El Esplendor de los Omeyas cordobeses, exhibition catalogue, Granada, 2001, pp.120-1).
The present capital is particularly pleasing to the mathematician. It was carved from a block of marble that was a perfect 28cm. cube. Both the upper and lower surfaces are incised with the geometric lines made in the original block to enable the capital to be carved. Those in the base are just radiating lines, but those in the top show clearer how the design was structured.
A number of similar capitals are known, although a close inspection shows that almost all of them differ slightly one from another. The present capital is very similar indeed to a number of examples which can be dated to the reign of Al-Hakam II, one of the best of which, bearing a signature and date, is in the al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait (Jerrilynn D. Dodds (ed.), Al Andalus, New York, 1992, no.39, p.247). Even more similar in terms of decoration and size is one that was excavated at Medinat al-Zahra and is dated to the second half of the tenth century (El Esplendor de los Omeyas cordobeses, exhibition catalogue, Granada, 2001, pp.120-1).
The present capital is particularly pleasing to the mathematician. It was carved from a block of marble that was a perfect 28cm. cube. Both the upper and lower surfaces are incised with the geometric lines made in the original block to enable the capital to be carved. Those in the base are just radiating lines, but those in the top show clearer how the design was structured.