ISLAM ART AND ARCHITECTURE

large, heavy, blue hardcover ~ 2º (folio ~ 12"x11") large "coffee table" book, international or priority shipping will cost extra. dustwrapper in protective plastic book jacket cover. fine cond. binding square & tight. covers clean. edges clean. contents free of markings. dustwrapper in vg+ / near fine cond. missing triangular piece on front near spine (see photos), not price clipped. nice clean copy. no library markings, store stamps, stickers, bookplates, no names, inking, underlining, remainder markings etc~. first english language edition. first printing (#1 in # line). full color decorative endpapers. glossy full color photo frontis. 639p. glossy pages throughout. double page full color map. every page illustrated in full glossy color. many full page plates. color maps, plans & diagrams throughout. (list of) authors. bibliography. the islamic calendar/transliteration. glossary of islamic dynasties. glossary. index. ~ Islam, the youngest but second~largest of the great global religions, has decisively shaped and altered the world since its foundation by the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century. Preserving diversity within unity, the most varied types of cultural and artistic expression gather in the "house of Islam," under the umbrella of the one shared religion. The rapid expansion of Islam in its early days encouraged a unique absorption and integration of disparate cultural forms and traditions. In the course of twelve centuries, the cultures of Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and finally, Southeast Asia, were added to Islam's original areas of influence in the Middle East, North Africa, Persia and Turkey. This book follows the historical development of the Islamic regions and their ruling dynasties, and illustrates their greatly varied forms of artistic expression from the birth of the religion to the present day. Basic architectural elements such as the four iwan layout or the minaret demonstrate, in their diverse modes of execution, the independence of regional building traditions. In the decoration of buildings or of everyday objects, ornamentation ~ that most characteristic of all Islamic art forms ~ displays its endless creativity. In the restrained yet inventive brick and tile ornamentation of Uzbekistan, just as in the bright, naturalistic arabesque of India or Iran, and in the ubiquitous geometrical ornamentation of Spain and the Maghreb, clear forms of expression are manifest, celebrating the riches and beauty of Allah's creation. This impulse also inspires the colorful and fantastical book illustrations and calligraphy, sumptuous tapestries, extravagant metalwork, ceramics, and jewelry produced by all Islamic cultures.…