Patron, mosque: Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (al-Walīd I) c.674-715 Caliph (r.705-715). Patron, minaret: Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Yahya ibn al-Kashshab, Qadi of Aleppo during reign of Abu Sa'id Taj ad-Dawla Tutush I (Tutush I) d.1095 emir of Damascus (r.1078-1092) & sultan of Damascus (r.1092-1094). Architect: Hasan ibn Mufarraj al-Sarmani. An earthquake caused the lean. Although the Mosque was founded in 715, the Minaret dates from the Seljuk restoration of 1090 and was destroyed in 2013.

The Umayyad Mosque in the Ancient City of Damascus (Syria) is one of the oldest mosques built & has a variety of Islamic architectural features. The wall of the prayer room facing the courtyard is embellished with golden mosaics

h: 33 mm d: 25 mm

Gothic Weaving Embroidery Enamel Sculpture genuine antique chromolithograph 1889. Weaving and embroidery, which were produced in large numbers during the Gothic period, especially in the monasteries, initially followed the patterns inherited from the south and east (Fig. 11). Carpet pattern from a tempera painting by Niccolo Alunno (1466) in the Pinacoteca in Perugia. DESCRIPTION : Antique / Vintage chromolithograph of GOTHISCH WEBEREI, STICKEREI, BEMALTE SKULPTUR UND EMAIL (Gothic Weaving, Embroidery, Painted Sculpture and Enamel) GOTHIC WEAVING, EMBROIDERY, PAINTED SCULPTURE AND ENAMEL Weaving and embroidery, which were produced in large numbers during the Gothic period, especially in the monasteries, initially followed the patterns inherited from the south and east (Fig. 11). But this was gradually abandoned and people turned to decoration with flowers and leaves, which were used in a strict stylization, without, however, excluding the figurative element. The latter had its place particularly in sacred vestments, curtains and carpets in churches, where it was given a symbolic meaning. The fact that linear ornament also maintained its place in Italian Gothic (Fig. 6-9) should not surprise us, given the influence of Byzantine and Arabic art in earlier times (cf. also Plate 44, Fig. 13, 14, 16, 19). Sculptures made of wood or stone were often painted; the garment patterns usually show the motifs mentioned above. Fig. 12 and 13 belong to the transition from the Gothic to the Renaissance. Enamel was used extensively in the 13th century on the magnificent reliquaries, but the Romanesque decorative forms were still very prominent here. Figure 1. Statue of St. Simon in the choir of the Cologne Cathedral. Fig. 2. Garment pattern on another statue there. Fig. 3. Embroidered border of French origin. 14th century. Fig. 4. Embroidered fabric of French origin (instead of gold, silver is used in the original). 15th century. Fig. 5. Embroidered fabric of French origin. 14th century. Fig. 6 - 9. Borders and carpet patterns from the wall paintings in the upper church of St. Francesco in Assisi. 14th century. Fig. 10. Carpet pattern from a tempera painting by Niccolo Alunno (1466) in the Pinacoteca in Perugia. Fig. 11. Sicilian fabric from St. Mary's Church in Gdansk. 13th century. Fig. 12. Border of a carpet on a painting by Hugo van der Goes in the Uffizi in Florence. 15th century. Fig. 13. Border of a carpet on a painting by Mantegna in S. Zeno in Verona, end of the 15th century. Fig. 14. Border of an embroidered bodice. 14th century (German work). Fig. 15 and 16. Fabric pattern from the 14th century, of French origin. Fig. 17. Gilded copper engraving from the cross reliquary panel in the Catholic parish church in Mettlach. Fig. 18-20. Enamelled decorations on the shrine of the three kings in Cologne Cathedral, beginning of the 13th century. Fig. 21. Enamelled border from the beginning of the 13th century in the Musée de Cluny. Fig. 6 - 8. Taken by Reg.-Baumeister Borkhardt in Stuttgart. Fig. 9 and 10. H. Dolmetsch, The rest taken from: "Weerth, Kunstdenkmäler des christl. Mittelalters in den Rheinlanden." "Hoffmann, Les arts et l'industrie." "Cahier et Martin, mélanges d'archéologie." "Louandre, Les arts somptuaires." "Dupont-Auberville, l'ornement des tissus." "Viollet-le-Duc, dictionnaire raisonné du mobilier français." GOTHISCH WEBEREI, STICKEREI, BEMALTE SKULPTUR UND EMAIL Grewebe und Stickereien, welche in grosser Anzahl während der gothischen Periode namentlich in den Klöstern gefertigt wurden, schlossen sich in der ersten Zeit noch an die vom Süden und Osten überkommenen Muster an (Fig. 11). Aber man verschmähte dies allmählich und wandte sich besonders der Verzierung durch Blumen und Blätter zu, die in strenger Stilisierung Verwendung finden, ohne jedoch das figürliche Element auszuschliefsen. Letzteres hatte seinen Platz namentlich bei heiligen Gewändern, Vorhängen und Teppichen in Kirchen, wo ihm eine symbolische Beziehung unterlegt wurde. Dafs in der italienischen Gothik auch das Linienornament seinen Platz behauptete (Fig. 6-9), darf uns bei dem Einflufs byzantinischer und arabischer Kunst in der früheren Zeit nicht Wunder nehmen (vergl. auch Taf. 44, Fig. 13, 14, 16, 19). Skulpturen von Holz oder Stein wurden vielfach bemalt; die Gewandmuster zeigen dann gewöhnlich die oben erwähnten Motive. Fig. 12 u. 13 gehören schon dem Übergang von der Gothik zur Renaissance an. Das Email fand besonders im 13. Jahrhundert an den prächtigen Reliquienschreinen reichste Anwendung, hiebei kamen jedoch die romanischen Zierformen noch sehr zur Geltung. Figur 1. Statue des h. Simon im Chor des Domes zu Köln. Fig. 2. Gewandmuster an einer andern Statue daselbst. Fig. 3. Gestickte Bordüre französischen Ursprungs. XIV. Jahrhundert. Fig. 4. Gestickter Stoff französischen Ursprungs (anstatt Gold ist im Original Silber angewendet). XV. Jahrh. Fig. 5. Gestickter Stoff französischen Ursprungs XIV. Jahrh. Fig. 6 - 9. Bordüren und Teppichmuster von den Wandgemälden der Oberkirche S. Francesco zu Assisi. XIV. Jahrh. Fig. 10. Teppichmuster von einem Temperagemälde des Niccolo Alunno (1466) in der Pinakothek zu Perugia. Fig. 11. Sizilianisches Gewebe aus der Marienkirche zu Danzig. XIII. Jahrh. Fig.12. Borde eines Teppichs auf dem Bilde des Hugo van der Goes in den Uffizien zu Florenz. XV. Jahrh. Fig. 13. Borde eines Teppichs auf einem Bilde von Mantegna in S. Zeno zu Verona, Ende des XV. Jahrh. Fig. 14. Bordüre von einem gestickten Mefsgewande. XIV. Jahrh. (deutsche Arbeit). Fig. 15 u. I6. Stoffmuster aus dem XIV. Jahrh., französischen Ursprungs. Fig. 17. Vergoldete Kupfergravierung von der Kreuzreliquientafel in der kath. Pfarrkirche zu Mettlach. Fig. 18-20. Emaillierte Verzierungen am Schrein der h. drei Könige im Dom zu Köln, Anfang des XIII. Jahrh. Fig. 21. Emaillierte Bordüre aus dem Anfang des XIII. Jahrh. im Musée de Cluny. Fig. 6 - 8. Aufgenommen von Reg.-Baumeister Borkhardt in Stuttgart. Fig. 9 u. 10. H. Dolmetsch, Das Übrige entnommen aus: "Weerth, Kunstdenkmäler des christl. Mittelalters in den Rheinlanden." "Hoffmann, Les arts et l'industrie."  "Cahier et Martin, mélanges d'archéologie."  "Louandre, Les arts somptuaires."  "Dupont-Auberville, l'ornement des tissus." "Viollet-le-Duc, dictionnaire raisonné du mobilier français." PROVENANCE: Rescued from a distressed volume of Der Ornamentenschatz ein Musterbuch Stillvoller Ornamente aus allen Kunstephochen by H. Dolmetsch ( The Ornament Treasure is a sample book of stylish ornaments from all eras of art). Title page is not included. I include an A4 page with the German and English (Google translated) description. DATE : Published 1889, Stuttgart verlag Von Julius Hoffmann CONDITION : has a rough edge, some minor grubby marks and discolouration, blank on reverse.  SIZE : 24.2 cm x 33.8 cm SHIPPING : Posted flat, in a plastic sleeve, between two pieces of cardboard, and in a plastic mailing bag

As the Islamic world begins to celebrate Eid al-Adha and the end of the Hajj pilgrimage, we look at the most beautiful mosques in Morocco, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, and beyond

After the fall of the Ummayad Caliphate in April of 750 AD after the Battle of the Zab,  the Muslim empire throne was taken up by the Abbasid dynasty. The first caliph of the new dynasty, Abu Abbas As-Saffah, brought the capital city of the Islamic empire from Damascus to Baghdad.  It is during this…

The first nucleus of the city of Baghdad was the "Round City" (Madinat al-Salam) founded by the Abbasid caliph al- Mansur in 762 AD and completed in 766 AD on the west bank of...

Looking for a great city break from the UK? Then you should definitely think about Girona. Here's our guide to the perfect 48 hours (including all the best things to do in Girona) in this delightfully pretty Spanish city.

Umayyad Caliphate flag / white flag with black golden tawhid

From the blog of Dani Ishai Behan at The Times of Israel

#oman #muscat

DSC_6995 Mehrab of Ommayad Mosque

Image 24 of 27 from gallery of Msheireb Downtown Doha Masterplan / Allies and Morrison + AECOM + Arup. Photograph by Hufton + Crow

The Ummayad Mosque, aka the Grand Mosque of Damascus is one of the oldest mosques in the world and is regarded as the fourth-holiest site in Islam, it was built on the site of a Christian basilica dedicated to John the Baptist © Eric Lafforgue www.ericlafforgue.com

Great Mosque of Damascus, also called Umayyad Mosque, the earliest surviving stone mosque, built between 705 and 715 CE by the Umayyad Caliph al-Walīd I, who proclaimed to his citizens: “People of Damascus, four things give you a marked superiority over the rest of the world: your climate, your water, your fruits, and your baths. To these I add a fifth: this mosque.” Adjacent to the mosque is the tomb of one of the most illustrious Muslim leaders, Saladin, who recaptured Jerus