Washington, DC-Sackl..on Scene from Basin7
Probably northern Iraq, mid 13ht C Brass inlaid with Silver Purchase F1955.10
aperture=f2.8 focal length: 60.0 mm exposure 1/30 sec ISO: 2000
Washington, DC-Sackl..lery-Arabic Monkey11
Monkeys grasp for the Moon by Xu Bing
aperture=f2.8 focal length: 60.0 mm exposure 1/30 sec ISO: 2000
Washington, DC-Sackl.. the Life of Christ8
Probably northern Iraq, mid 13th C Brass inlaid with Silver Purchase F1941.10
aperture=f2.8 focal length: 60.0 mm exposure 1/80 sec ISO: 2000
Washington, DC-Sackl..-Glass Bowl Closeup2
Syria, 1350-1400 Gilded and Enameled Glass Purchase F1933.13 Monumental in scale and exquisitely decorated, this deep bowl is characteristic of the finest glass production in late-fourteenth century Syria. Its decorative frieze of fantastic animals--two griffins, two sphinxes, a lion and three unicorns--is punctuated with the blazons of the Rasulid rulers of Yemen (1228-1454), identifying them once again as patrons of this vessel. In addition to its impressive size and sophisticated design, the bowl is remarkable for its enameling on both the exterior and interior surfaces.
aperture=f3.5 focal length: 60.0 mm exposure 1/125 sec ISO: 2000
Washington, DC-Sackl..y-Gold chain clasp10
Henan province, Luoyang, Jincun Eastern Zhou dynasty, Warring states period. 745-221 BCE Gold, nephrite, amber and turquoise RLS1997.48.437 Since it was first exhibited in London in 1935, this gold chain with pairs of loose jade and amber beads has been described as a necklace, even though Chinese archaeologists have not found a comparable piece of Jewelry in any controlled excavation. Research on a similar woven gold strand that was purchased from the same Chinese art dealer (and is now on display in the Freer Gallery of Art) suggests such chains were never intended to be worn around the neck. They were probably reconfigured in the early 20th century from ancient belts. Despite the modern arrangement, each element dates to the late Warring States period (475-221 BCE) and can be associated with the royal cemetary at Jincun, Henan province.
aperture=f4.0 focal length: 60.0 mm exposure 1/160 sec ISO: 2000
Washington, DC-Sackl..lery-Hebrew Monkey12
Monkeys grasp for the Moon by Xu Bing
aperture=f2.8 focal length: 60.0 mm exposure 1/30 sec ISO: 2000
Washington, DC-Sackl..rated Shahnama Leaf3
Kay-Khusraw crossing the sea From a copy of the Shahnama by Firdawsi Shiraz, Iran. Inju dynasty, dated AH 741 (1431 CE) Purchase F1942.12 The celebrated Persian poet Firdawsi (died 1020) completed the Shahnama (Book of Kings) around the year 1010. Consisting of approximately fifty-thousand verses, this epic--one of the longest poems ever written--narrates the history of Iran from the creation of the world to the fall of the Sassanian dynasty in the seventh century. This folio is from one of the earliest known illustrated copies of the Shahnama. It was created in the southern region of Fars during the rule of the Injus (1325-1353), who were vassals of the Mongol Il-Khanid rulers. The narrof format, limited palette and extensive use of red background are characteristic of early Shahnama copies. This folio depicts the sea journey of King Kay-Khusraw and the fantastic and strange beasts he encountered.
aperture=f2.8 focal length: 60.0 mm exposure 1/25 sec ISO: 2000
Washington, DC-Sackl..us Scene from Basin6
Probably northern Iraq, mid 13ht C Brass inlaid with Silver Purchase F1955.10
aperture=f2.8 focal length: 60.0 mm exposure 1/30 sec ISO: 2000
Washington, DC-Sackl..llery-Lid with Duck9
Iran, Sassanian period 6-7th C Silver and gilt S1987.107 The exact function of this rimmed circular disk is not certain, but it may have served as a lid. The meaning of its design also defies easy explanation. A sinuous yet stylized vine scroll with abundant leaves and grapes covers the surface and surrounds a central medallion featuring a duck. A hunting dog and perhaps a jackal eats the fruits, and three birds appear along the outer edges. The scene may be a visual reference to paradeisos, the large "paradises" or enclosed cultivated landscapes that were used for royal hunting expeditions throughout the empire.
aperture=f4.5 focal length: 60.0 mm exposure 1/200 sec ISO: 2000
Washington, DC-Sackl.. a Heliotrope Plant5
From an Arabic translation of De Materia Medica by Discorides, copied by Abdullah ibn al-Fadl Iraq, probably Baghdad, AH 621 (1224 CE) Purchase F1932.20 and F1938.1 De Materia Medica, a five-volume work by the ancient Greek physician and botanist Dioscorides (C. 40-90 CE), was one of the first scientific texts to be translated from Greek into Arabic in ninth-century Iraq. In contrast to the original Greek copies that include relatively simple depictions of the plants, the Arabic versions introduce illustrations with animated human figures that are not mentioned in the text.Their inclusion lends a distinct narrative quality to the images. Most illustrated Arab copies of De Materia Medica were probably produced in thirteenth-century Baghdad and its vicinity
aperture=f2.8 focal length: 60.0 mm exposure 1/30 sec ISO: 2000
Washington, DC-Sackl..eparing a Cataplasm4
From an Arabic translation of De Materia Medica by Discorides, copied by Abdullah ibn al-Fadl Iraq, probably Baghdad, AH 621 (1224 CE) Purchase F1932.20 and F1938.1 De Materia Medica, a five-volume work by the ancient Greek physician and botanist Dioscorides (C. 40-90 CE), was one of the first scientific texts to be translated from Greek into Arabic in ninth-century Iraq. In contrast to the original Greek copies that include relatively simple depictions of the plants, the Arabic versions introduce illustrations with animated human figures that are not mentioned in the text.Their inclusion lends a distinct narrative quality to the images. Most illustrated Arab copies of De Materia Medica were probably produced in thirteenth-century Baghdad and its vicinity
aperture=f2.8 focal length: 60.0 mm exposure 1/40 sec ISO: 2000
Washington, DC-Sackl..lery-Signed pen box1
by Shazi Iran or Afghanistan 1210-1211 (A.H. 607) Brass inlaid with copper, silver and black organic material Purchase 36.7
aperture=f3.5 focal length: 60.0 mm exposure 1/125 sec ISO: 2000