Art of Islamic Patterns: A Southeast Asian Rosette

Art of Islamic Patterns: A Southeast Asian Rosette

Written by Adam Williamson
Cursive, vegetal, biomorphic forms predominate in patterns in Malaysia, Indonesia and parts of Thailand. This final installment in our series is based on the geometry of leaves and petals.
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Art of Islamic Patterns: A Moorish Star

Art of Islamic Patterns: A Moorish Star

Written by Richard Henry
On a wall overlooking a garden in Marrakesh, Morocco, this 12-pointed star vibrates with strapwork and ornamentation, but its basic geometry can be drawn using only one-eighth of the pattern. That becomes. template that, flipped and inverted seven times, produces the rest of the star.
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Art of Islamic Patterns: Rüstem Pasha Rosette

Art of Islamic Patterns: Rüstem Pasha Rosette

Written by Adam Williamson
Originally designed for tiles adorning the mosque in Istanbul commissioned in the 16th century by Ottoman Grand Vizier Rustem Pasha, this 12-fold rosette combines geometry with plant and flower motifs to achieve a centrifugal, undulating, harmonious composition.
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Art of Islamic Patterns: Mughal Jaali

Art of Islamic Patterns: Mughal Jaali

Written by Richard Henry

Art courtesy of Art of Islamic Pattern

Decorative and functional, lattice screens have been produced in countless geometric forms across Islamic lands over centuries. In New Delhi one such screen, there called a jaali, offers mesmerizing interplays of 6- and 12-sided figures. Originally crafted in the 16th century, it can be drawn today by following our step-by-step guide.

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Art of Islamic Patterns: Mamluk Rosette

Art of Islamic Patterns: Mamluk Rosette

Written by Adam Williamson
Art courtesy of Art of Islamic Pattern

In part two of this series, we construct a medallion that combines a geometric rosette with an eight-point biomorphic, or arabesque, design. With tracing paper, get ready to learn a 700-year-old patternmaking hack.

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Art of Islamic Patterns: Alicatado

Art of Islamic Patterns: Alicatado

Written by Richard Henry and Adam Williamson
Art courtesy of Art of Islamic Pattern

In this six-part series, we begin by learning how to draw, step by step, a swirling dance of geometry from a famous cut-tile wall panel in the Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain. It’s easier than it looks.

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