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Source Description
Originally mounted on a tall pole and dressed with fabric streamers, this standard (‘alam) was paraded through the streets and public squares of Iran during ritual festivities commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn (d. 680), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Projecting dragon heads frame an intricate calligraphic composition that bears the names of the 12 imams (religious leaders) central to the branch of Shia Islam adopted as the official state religion by the Safavid dynasty (1501–1736). Adherents of Shia Islam believe that the legitimate successor to the Prophet Muhammad was ‘Ali, the father of Husayn and son-in-law of Muhammad.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
99778
label
'Alam
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
6
Source metadata
id
99778
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
'Alam
description
Originally mounted on a tall pole and dressed with fabric streamers, this standard (‘alam) was paraded through the streets and public squares of Iran during ritual festivities commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn (d. 680), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Projecting dragon heads frame an intricate calligraphic composition that bears the names of the 12 imams (religious leaders) central to the branch of Shia Islam adopted as the official state religion by the Safavid dynasty (1501–1736). Adherents of Shia Islam believe that the legitimate successor to the Prophet Muhammad was ‘Ali, the father of Husayn and son-in-law of Muhammad.
provenance
Acquired by Wilfried Uhde, Heidelberg, Germany, March 1987; purchased by Sam Fogg Ltd., London, February 2017; purchased by Walters Art Museum, 2017.
date
1664-1665 (Early Modern)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
standards
imageCount
6
pageCount
6
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
125.5
height
42.2
depth
1
dimensionsRaw
H: 49 7/16 × Max W: 16 5/8 × D: 3/8 in. (125.5 × 42.2 × 1 cm); Base H: 5 9/16 × W: 7 3/8 in. (14.1 × 18.7 cm)
Source extras
cul
Safavid
inscriptions
[Inscriptions] On front at bottom: عمل محمد تقی اردوبادی; [Translation] Work of Muhammad Taqi Ordubadi; [Inscription] On back at bottom:۱۰۷۵; الله ولی توفیق; [Translation] 1075; God is the bestower of success
med
cast, hammered, and pierced iron
creator_ids
35234
collection_ids
ISL
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
05f0671ea9f9768a
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
33f5ccc00e9df383
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
b3280fa0a24f2355
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
4
type
photo
mediaId
0803110503915199
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
5
type
photo
mediaId
eb2d8282ec09edc9
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
6
type
photo
mediaId
0ccfb237a51c5e9e
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no