Mihrab-shaped panel

Mihrabs—which mark prayer direction on the Mecca-facing (qibla) wall in a mosque—have a long history in Islamic art and architecture. They commonly appear as recessed niches with pointed arches supported by columns and enclosed by bands of inscription. Mihrab-shaped panels, like this one, were typically commemorative, serving as tombstones or place markers, for example in shrines or mausoleums. As there is no deceased individual’s name here, this panel was likely not a tombstone.

The panel’s decorative program presents a lot of information on a compact surface. God’s majesty and power are described in three Arabic inscriptions. The hanging lamp is seen in mosques, mausoleums, and schools (madrasas), where it symbolizes God’s presence. The beauty of the message is further enhanced through four different calligraphic scripts, geometric and vegetal patterning, and muqarnas (decorative vaulting), which are seen widely on secular and religious artworks.