Mosul: Metalworkers

Date: Late tenth century

The Palestinian geographer and traveller, al-Muqaddasi (d. c. 990) recorded the export of iron, buckets, knives, and chains from Mosul. See also: Artisan of Brass; Sword Inlayer; Blacksmith; Inlayer of Metalwork; Copper Worker.

Citation: Raby, Julian. “The principle of parsimony and the problem of ‘the Mosul school of metalwork’,” in Venetia Porter and Mariam Rosser-Owen, eds, Metalwork and Material Culture in the Islamic World: Art, Craft, and Text: Essays presented to James W. Allan (London: I.B. Tauris, 2012), p. 12.

B

Date: 1149-50

The twelfth-century historian, Ibn al-Azraq recorded that, acting on behalf of the ruler of Mayyafariqin’s behalf, he sold iron to Mosul in 544 (1149-50 CE). See also: Artisan of Brass; Sword Inlayer; Blacksmith; Inlayer of Metalwork.

Citation: Raby, Julian. “The principle of parsimony and the problem of ‘the Mosul school of metalwork’,” in Venetia Porter and Mariam Rosser-Owen, eds, Metalwork and Material Culture in the Islamic World: Art, Craft, and Text: Essays presented to James W. Allan (London: I.B. Tauris, 2012), p. 52.

B

Date: 1248-49

Daʾud b. Salama’s name appears on a candlestick, which is now in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. See also: Blacksmith; Artisan of Brass; Artisan of Silver; Mortar Maker; Silversmith; Tinsmith; Decorator of Metal Vessels; Inlayer of Metalwork.

Citation: Mayer, Leo Ary. Islamic Metalworkers and their Works (Geneva: Albert Kundig, 1959), p. 40.

Date: 1248-49

ʿUmar b. al-Khidr al-Maliki al-Badri’s name appears on the iron door for Imam ʿAwn al-Din’s mausoleum in Mosul, constructed by Badr al-Din Luʾluʾ, independent ruler of Mosul from 1233 to 1259. See also: Blacksmith; Artisan of Brass; Artisan of Silver; Mortar Maker; Silversmith; Tinsmith; Decorator of Metal Vessels; Inlayer of Metalwork.

Citation: Mayer, Leo Ary. Islamic Metalworkers and their Works (Geneva: Albert Kundig, 1959), p. 88.