Early Islamic Signature

rand · 15th November 2007, 07:08 AM

Alp (Hero) Sipahi were the Ottoman heavy cavalry, their blazon was a tiger. The were Christian slaves bought when young and trained in the arts of war. They were not allowed to marry and their units became their family. They were supported by the fief system and owed their loyalty to the Sultan (strong). They would wear tiger skins over their armor, they had coats with stylized tiger stripes and once a year the Sultan would wear his tiger striped coat and go to the Sipahi dwellings to receive a traditional yearly pay same as the Sipahi.

rand

rand · 16th November 2007, 12:14 AM

From Islamic and Art Patronage, the al- Sabah Collection,

"TILE WITH EPIGRAPHIC BLAZON OF SULTAN QAITBAY

Egypt, late 15th century
Diameter 30.0 cm (11 13/16 in.)
LNS 190 C

The blazon on this circular tile - with the text placed in three horizontal fields reserved in white against a blue ground and bordered in black - belonged to the Mamluk sultan Qaitbay. The Arabic inscription follows the arrangement of the period and is read in the sequence of central field, upper panel, and lower panel. It states: "Glory to our master, the Sultan al-Malik al-Ashraf Abu'l-Nasir Qaitbay, amy his victory be glorious."
Unique to the Mamluks, the epigraphic blazon was initiated by Sultan Nasir al-Din Muhammad around 1320 and became the emblem of all subsequent rulers. Offices held by the Mamluks were also identified by blazons, symbols of their rank. They were displayed on the owners' garments, arms, and armour and on the art and architecture commissioned by them."

rand · 16th November 2007, 04:23 AM

Mamluk style places great emphasis on abstract geometrical patterns. Mamluk door panels is an example of absract geometrical pattern and Mamluk/Venitian candle sticks combine the absract with a floral design.

The raised designs on the blade with heavy gold overlay are an abstract geometrical floral design, you can see the vine and leaf if you look carefully.

rand

15th November 2007, 07:08 AM	#1
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Sipahi Alp Alp (Hero) Sipahi were the Ottoman heavy cavalry, their blazon was a tiger. The were Christian slaves bought when young and trained in the arts of war. They were not allowed to marry and their units became their family. They were supported by the fief system and owed their loyalty to the Sultan (strong). They would wear tiger skins over their armor, they had coats with stylized tiger stripes and once a year the Sultan would wear his tiger striped coat and go to the Sipahi dwellings to receive a traditional yearly pay same as the Sipahi. rand Attached Images

16th November 2007, 12:14 AM	#2
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Mamluk Blazon From Islamic and Art Patronage, the al- Sabah Collection, "TILE WITH EPIGRAPHIC BLAZON OF SULTAN QAITBAY Egypt, late 15th century Diameter 30.0 cm (11 13/16 in.) LNS 190 C The blazon on this circular tile - with the text placed in three horizontal fields reserved in white against a blue ground and bordered in black - belonged to the Mamluk sultan Qaitbay. The Arabic inscription follows the arrangement of the period and is read in the sequence of central field, upper panel, and lower panel. It states: "Glory to our master, the Sultan al-Malik al-Ashraf Abu'l-Nasir Qaitbay, amy his victory be glorious." Unique to the Mamluks, the epigraphic blazon was initiated by Sultan Nasir al-Din Muhammad around 1320 and became the emblem of all subsequent rulers. Offices held by the Mamluks were also identified by blazons, symbols of their rank. They were displayed on the owners' garments, arms, and armour and on the art and architecture commissioned by them." Attached Images

16th November 2007, 04:23 AM	#3
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Decoration on Blade Mamluk style places great emphasis on abstract geometrical patterns. Mamluk door panels is an example of absract geometrical pattern and Mamluk/Venitian candle sticks combine the absract with a floral design. The raised designs on the blade with heavy gold overlay are an abstract geometrical floral design, you can see the vine and leaf if you look carefully. rand Attached Images Last edited by rand; 16th November 2007 at 04:38 AM.