Art: Base For A Water Pipe Flashcards
The Mughals were notable for what?
Their conspicuous consumption
What were some rich luxury objects used by the Mughal courts?
metalwork, paintings and carpets
How did the Mughals feel about the production of metal work?
They supported and expanded the production
How did metal objects differ from manuscripts and fine textiles?
They were used by all social classes
What was the difference between the metalwork for the general public and the imperial pieces?
Members of the general public utilized relatively plain and made from lesser materials, while the imperial pieces were ornately decorated and made from expensive materials such as gold and silver
How did the the art historian describe the wide variety of pieces?
“The quantity of well-preserved vessels and utensils in a myriad of differing shapes is impressive”
What different objects did the art historian include in his description?
bowls, casks, boxes, inkwells, pen boxes, buckets, ewers, flasks, bottles, jugs, rosewater sprinklers, strong boxes, trays, mirrors, keys, locks, lamps, lampshades, candleholders, incense burners, mortars, tray stands, bottle supports, pumice-stone holders, astrolabes, celestial globes and aquamaniles
What was unusual about some of the incense burners?
they were animal shaped
What items did the list not include?
arms (weapons, not limbs) and armor, jewelry, and architectural decoration.
How does Islamic metalwork compare to the carpet examples in our resource guide?
More metalwork remains in the present day that was created in that time period than the carpets and is much better represented in museum collections.
What is the most significant threat to metal?
Human Hands
Why are human hands a large threat to the ancient metalworks?
later generations had valued the material more than the work itself so often it was melted down.
Which objects tended to fare better against humans and why?
Copper objects tended to fare better than silver or gold because precious metals are often in greater demand.
What are some techniques for producing metal objects in Islamic culture?
casting, hammering, turning and spinning.
What can be associated with identifiable regions
Specific types of objects, particular shapes and even carious forms of surface decoration
What is inlaying used for?
creating embellishments
What happens during inlaying?
an object made of one kind of metal has a pattern engraved into its surface.
Which types of metals are hammered into the objects during inlaying and why?
Silver, gold, copper and black organic compounds are hammered into recessed areas to produce decorative color and contrast
What may decorative schemes include?
geometric, floral or figural compositions and animals and birds
Which animals and birds are represented on decorative schemes?
lions, eagles, hawks, sphinxes and griffins
What do Imperial objects often illustrate?
Banquets and hunting scenes
How were many objects enhanced?
they were inscribed with types of calligraphy (this is typical for most forms Islamic art.
What types of ways can inscriptions be presented?
Kufic (an angular script) or naskhi (cursive)
What is present on these inscribed objects?
Good wishes, blessings and even glorifications of the object itself are present, as are quranic verses and prayers (this is particularly for religious objects such as mosque lamps)
How are the surfaces divided on inscribed objects?
carious bands
How are the decorations and inscriptions read on surfaces?
Right to left
How are the decorations and inscriptions read on three-dimensional objects?
counterclockwise
What did Mughal metalwork rely heavily on?
Persian techniques, forms and themes
A division of labor and artisans were PROBABLY responsible for doing what?
creating the general shape for the bidriware and others specialized in the ornamentations and inlay processes
How were Mughal Bidriware characterized?
floral decorative motifs, with some animal and human figures depicted in the landscapes and occasions inscriptions based on Iranian models.
Where did Bidriware get its name?
From the city of Bidar ( as city in South-central India) where this metalworking technique originated.
What were Bidriware forms casted from?
An alloy of zinc mixed with copper, tin and lead
With what is the general shape of the cast object inlaid with?
silver, but occasionally brass or gold
What is the entire form of Bidriware coated with?
A paste of mud coated with a paste of mud containing sal ammoniac, a rare mineral.
What does the Bidriware form look like after the mud coating is removed and the form is then polished?
It has a dark, matte surface that provides a strong contrast with the bright, shiny inlay elements
When was the Bidriware process adopted throughout northern India?
Eighteenth century
What is the most common form of Bidriware object?
hookah (water pipe)
What did a hookah base look like?
Spherical or bell-shaped and were typically decorated with abstract and floral patterns
Why were hookah’s popular?
They were used to smoke tobacco and tobacco was very popular at this time
