Arts & crafts of the Islamic lands : principles, materials, practice / edited by Khaled Azzam ; educational coordinator, Ririko Suzuki.

Based on decades of research and expertise, and written by tutors at The Prince's School of Traditional Arts, one of the world's leading schools for the study of the traditional crafts of the East and West, this book provides unparalleled access to a glorious range of techniques, methods, materials and skills. The first chapter explores the fundamental principles of Islamic arts and crafts: geometry, islimi and calligraphy. The second introduces widely used materials and tools, while the third provides illustrated step-by-step guides to the crafting of artefacts and artworks, including Kufic calligraphy, plaster carving, miniature painting, parquetry, ceramics, mosaics and glassblowing. The history and significance of the techniques and materials used are also explained, accompanied by numerous illustrations of masterworks found throughout the Islamic world.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 274-275) and index.

Part 1. Principles : i. Geometry : Introduction to geometry / Keith Critchlow ; Order in nature / Paul Marchant ; Proportion / Paul Marchant ; Shapes, grids and patterns / Paul Marchant, Jonathan Horning -- ii. Islimi : Introduction to Islimi / Adam Williamson -- iii. Calligraphy : Introduction to Arabic calligraphy / Nassar Mansour -- Part 2. Materials and preparation : Traditional pigments / David Cranswick -- Gesso panels / Adam Williamson -- Gilding / Mark Mills -- Brush and wasli paper for Mughal and Persian miniature painting / Fatima Zahra Hassan -- Part 3. Methods and techniques : Kufic calligraphy / Nassar Mansour -- Plaster carving / Mamdouh Sakr -- Mughal and Persian miniature painting / Fatima Zahra Hassan -- Parquetry / Tom Bree -- Ceramic plates / Simon Trethewey -- Ceramic tiles / Jonathan Horning -- Mosaic / David Feuerstein -- Glassmaking / Martin Birk Moller.