Visual Analysis
Visual analysis is critical in the analysis of art. Historically, art has been a critical part of the Islamic civilization, as evidenced through the popular Islamic artifacts ranging from the buildings, artifacts within the building, and even the objects that are used to hold the Quran. There are some popular Islamic artifacts and pieces of art that have been developed over the years, which include but are not limited to the Quran box and the Ivory box. In this research, we will conduct an explicit comparison between these two impeccable pieces of art. The primary aim of the research will be to unravel various features within these artifacts, some of the similarities or differences.
The Ivory Box
The Ivory Box is an artifact that is believed to have been developed in the 6th century in the Hegira time zone or AD late 12th century. The dimensions of the ivory box are close to 19 centimeters, the depth is 11 centimeters, and the height is 7.5 centimeters. The period when the artifact was created was during the Siculo-Norman or what is commonly referred to as the Siculo-Arab period (MWNF, n.d).
The Ivory-box is a box that is comprised of gold and black decorations on all sides except the underside. It is made from ivory. On the lid, there are various circular medallions, which include two gazelles, a lion, and two peacocks. In the middle of the medallions, there are some flowers as well as five birds. The top side has two medallions as well as some arabesque decorations. At the back of the box and on the sides, there is a drawing of two birds and a lion medallion. The lock is made of ivory plates that are brought together by pegs made from bones. Some Islamic cultures inspire the style and the design of the box. Also, there is an inclusion of Byzantine aspects, both of which are made by Muslim craftsmen. The original owner is believed to be from the palace of Manfrini in Venice (MWNF, n.d).
The Quran Box
Just like the Ivory Box, the Quran box is shaped like a box. However, while the Ivory box sits horizontally, the Quran box sits vertically. The Quran box has four distinct colors, which include the black color, which is dominant on all sides except on the upper side. The inside part is white, while there are some golden lines on the sides. There is also a rectangular shaped design on one side, which has a golden color. The lid of the box is brownish and has two circular patterns, with Islamic patterns. The box is made of wood.
There are some similarities with the ivory box in the fact that the designs follow a repetitive geometric style commonly referred to as arabesque. Also, both boxes have an Islamic inspiration. The other similarity is the fact that both artifacts have a rectangular shape and are interlaced with similar distinctive patterns (MWNF, n.d).
In conclusion, there are various similarities between the ivory box and the Quran box. Some of the similarities, as evidenced in the study, is evidenced through the designs, colors, and Islamic inspiration. The only notable differences between the two pieces of art are in the material which is used to make them. While the ivory box is made out of ivory, the Quran box is made out of wood.