Art History from the Muslim World
Xylography, or woodblock printing, moved westwards from China into the Islamic world as early as the eighth century. Arabic woodcut prints today only have been the subject of much scholarly research.
This particular typology was often used exclusively for amulets and other religiously influenced artworks
Here are some stunning xylographic prints and woodblocks from various regions of the Islamic World.
An atique from the 1920's, a title page for a Quranic Manuscript, made for a stamping machine.
Arabic characters in gold and black. Colour woodcut from Mughal India, the 1800s. (Welcome Collection, Ref: 582909i)
A lion formed with Arabic verses, Mughal India, the early 1800s.
Hand-carved woodblock engraved with "Safr Nishd al-Nishad li-Suleyman" (the Song of Solomon) from Ottomon Turkey.
A blockprinted linen cloth from 14th-century Cairo.
Xylography printing on amulet scrolls from 12th century Persia. Printed in Arabic on paper, five fields of woodblock print in black, brown, green and red print.
Fatimid-era block-printed amulets from 10th century.
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