Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/740

 682 COMPARATIVE ARCHITECTURE. Compare in this respect the elaborate sculpture of a Gothic facade, or the Classic treatment of a Greek temple or Roman triumphal arch. Debarred from the use of such an important quarry of forms, the Saracens were led to evolve and perfect a scheme of decoration in which the science of geometry was an important factor. They covered their buildings with geometric intertwining designs, which, in addition, they treated with gorgeous coloring in red, white, blue, silver, and gold, producing a most brilliant fretted surface, or " carpet-like " effect. Among different types are : — (a.) Mnemonic ornament, consisting of inscriptions from the Koran, worked into decorative panels, and composed either of lettering in the older style, known as Ktific, or of the flowing character of the later Italic lettering (No. 290). {b.) Surface ornament in various planes, known as " superposed." The term arabesque (Arabian-like) is applied generally to geometrical surface designs, whether in plaster or painted tiles. In these designs endless variety is obtained by the joining together of straight and curved lines, forming geometric figures of all conceivable forms (No. 291 b), the straight lines never forming a right angle at their junction. {p.) Stalactite decoration, primarily used to form the pendentives of domes (No. 286 d, f), was afterwards used decoratively in door-heads (Nos. 287 and 291 f), capitals (Nos. 290 and 291 j), and on walls generally. Examples of this treatment can be seen in the Mosque of Kait-Bey at Cairo (Nos. 285 and 287). The stalactite pendentive is comparatively rare in Spanish Saracenic. The Saracens also excel in their surface decoration, as applied to the accessories of architecture. The miishrebiyehs (Arabic, sharclb = a draught), or elaborate lattice-work screens formed of numerous turned pieces of wood, are characteristic. Such screens are used to windows, projecting bay windows, portions of facades in town houses, and the drinking fountains. The mimbars (No. 287) are richly carved with such lattice work and with stalactite ornament. They are also inlaid with ebony ivory, and have interlocking arch voussoirs of colored marbles. An elaborate example is that of the Sultan Kait-Bey (No. 287). The student should visit the Saracenic galleries at the Indian Museum, S. Kensington, where an excellent idea can be obtained of the ornamental features and color decoration of the style. 5. REFERENCE BOOKS. Bourgoin (J.). — " Les Arts Arabes." Folio. Paris, 1873. Bourgoin. — •" Precis de I'Art Arabe." Paris, 1890. Bourgoin. — " Les Elements de I'Art Arabe" (" Le trait des entre- lacs"). Paris, 1879.