Arabesques

This book begins by presenting the specifity of Moroccan decoration, and in it, we will examine three main elements of traditional Moroccan decoration as used in architecture: calligraphy, floral arabesques, and geometric designs. The latter element will make up the bulk of this book. You will find information here that will help you more thoroughly understand what you see, and those who truly love this type of decoration will quickly be able to create their own arabesques. The section dealing with plane geometric decoration which is the many-faceted world of polygonal arabesques, includes part of Jean-Marc Castéra’s previous book, Géométrie douce, but with the addition of photographs. For the following section, dealing with the tridimensional aspects of geometric decoration, muqarnas, his study was greatly aided by a recent discovery in the world of geometry and physics, called non-periodic tiling and “quasicrystals”. This book contains a series of keys, but the gilded door needs to be illuminated so the desire to discover more – and see more – may be awakened. It is for this reason that there are so many drawings and photos in this book.

Contents: Preface – Introduction: Some milestones in the history of Islam; Calligraphy; Floral arabesques – A world of stars: Introduction; Presentation of the method; Stars; Other stars; Additional motifs – Muqarnas: Introduction; Muqarnas in Morocco; Applications and analyses – Creation: Craftsmen and techniques; Chemmassiats; Main Moroccan sites for decorative works – Bibliography; Credits.

Text in French.
This book begins by presenting the specifity of Moroccan decoration, and in it, we will examine three main elements of traditional Moroccan decoration as used in architecture: calligraphy, floral arabesques, and geometric designs. The latter element will make up the bulk of this book. You will find information here that will help you more thoroughly understand what you see, and those who truly love this type of decoration will quickly be able to create their own arabesques. The section dealing with plane geometric decoration which is the many-faceted world of polygonal arabesques, includes part of Jean-Marc Castéra’s previous book, Géométrie douce, but with the addition of photographs. For the following section, dealing with the tridimensional aspects of geometric decoration, muqarnas, his study was greatly aided by a recent discovery in the world of geometry and physics, called non-periodic tiling and “quasicrystals”. This book contains a series of keys, but the gilded door needs to be illuminated so the desire to discover more – and see more – may be awakened. It is for this reason that there are so many drawings and photos in this book.

Contents: Preface – Introduction: Some milestones in the history of Islam; Calligraphy; Floral arabesques – A world of stars: Introduction; Presentation of the method; Stars; Other stars; Additional motifs – Muqarnas: Introduction; Muqarnas in Morocco; Applications and analyses – Creation: Craftsmen and techniques; Chemmassiats; Main Moroccan sites for decorative works – Bibliography; Credits.

Text in French.