Pattern, Color, Light

Architectural Ornament in the Near East (500–1000)

This exhibition features examples of architectural ornament from Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey that were found at sites ranging in date from approximately 500 to 1000. Few buildings from this period survive fully intact, but the pieces of walls, ceilings, and floors that remain shed light on the ingenious ways that artisans created sumptuous interiors and stately facades. Far from being mere embellishment, the decorative programs to which these pieces belonged were pivotal in creating memorable experiences for viewers, whether conveying the power of a patron or the depth of a religious concept.

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Gold glass tile, Syria, Islamic period (9th–12th century), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Hanging with polychrome columns Egypt, found at Sheikh Shata near Damietta, Byzantine period (5th–6th century). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Panel with beveled carving and remnants of later polychromy, Egypt, Islamic period ( last quarter of the 10th century). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York