Islamic lacquer art

The oldest examples of Islamic lacquerwork date back to the late 15th century. The preferred substrates were leather, wood and papier-mâché. The magnificently colored design of book covers, small chests, boxes, penners, mirror cases and etuis was executed in watercolors and shell gold, then coated with several layers of clear lacquer. The typical Islamic motifs are based on the local tradition of miniature painting and carpet-weaving. The lacquerwork in the Islamic section of the Museum für Lackkunst presents characteristic arabesques and flower arrangements as well as the classical Islamic theme of the rose and the nightingale. Further subjects are literary characters and hunting and court scenes.