Body Ornament in Islam

          The Museo Nazionale d'Arte Orientale in Rome, displays the art of Asia from Persia to Japan, over the period from the fifth century B.C. to the present day. Its fourteen rooms are filled with an impressive array of gold jewelry and bronzes, ceramics, vases, busts, clothing, sculpture and paintings. In this blog, our focus will be on Islamic jewelry dated from 200 A.D. to 1350 A.D.

          Some of the Islamic body ornaments found in the museum include covering lamina, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and pendants. These ornaments are usually made of silver, gold or bronze, and are often decorated with zoomorphic figures. Ornaments often recall Iranian, nomadic, Mesopotamian, and Egyptian art. In a similar manner to which Islam presents a way of life and provides a platform for the unification of culturally and ethnically diverse societies, Muslim art has basic particular and unifying characteristics. Islamic ornaments usually incorporate 4 basic elemental components of design, namely calligraphy, vegetal patterns, geometric patterns and figural representation.

          Articles of Ancient Islamic Jewelry were often made of solid gold and silver coins. These coins, which were mostly worn as necklaces, bracelets and rings, were frequently inscribed with Quranic Verses. Such jewelry was simple and void of gemstones and intricate or elaborate design. It is important to note however, that in the Islamic tradition men have always been discouraged to wear any gold ornamentation. Gemstones and other alloys were only used after Mohammad’s time as Islamic kings expanded the empire and as the Muslim culture developed.

          Although jewelry is not encouraged nor prohibited in the Quran several verses mention ornamentation, gold and other precious materials as part of the treasures of paradise. The faithful were to believed to be adorned with gold bracelets, pearls and corals at the gate of paradise. Since Islamic burials didn't include any artifacts to be buried with the dead most jewelry was recycled. However from surviving artifacts it is obvious that Arabic inscriptions, strong use of granulation and openwork filigree, fine metal wires which were soldered on metal objects in delicate designs, were fashionable.