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Lot Essay
The degree of sophistication and the lavishness of the decoration of these carved wooden doors indicate that they once furnished an elite religious interior. Their dense and exuberant surface decoration is done in carved wood and ivory, and include complex geometric patterns, floral motifs and calligraphy. The heavy use of Qur’anic extracts and the shahada in the calligraphic panels supports the use of these doors in a religious building. The three-panel door style was found in Persia from the thirteenth century, and feature on various important monuments such as the Gūr-e Amīr, Timur's tomb, in Samarqand, dated 808 AH/ 1405 AD (Pope and Ackerman, vol. II, 1938-9, pp.1152-55).
Our door can be classified as Safavid revival, for it is rendered in a style associated with late medieval and early modern designs. The decorations recall designs found on bookbindings and carpets and relate to designs of court artists of the Safavid period and previous dynasties.
A related pair of doors dating to the 17th century, which feature three panels with complex geometric designs inlaid with various types of wood, ivory and brass, are in the David Collection, Copenhagen (inv.no.35/2000).
Our door can be classified as Safavid revival, for it is rendered in a style associated with late medieval and early modern designs. The decorations recall designs found on bookbindings and carpets and relate to designs of court artists of the Safavid period and previous dynasties.
A related pair of doors dating to the 17th century, which feature three panels with complex geometric designs inlaid with various types of wood, ivory and brass, are in the David Collection, Copenhagen (inv.no.35/2000).