Bonhams 1793 : A jointed coffered wood Ceiling Panel North Africa or Spain, probably 14th Century(2)

of octagonal shape, layers of strips of wood forming geometric pattern around an eight-pointed star, comprising a central cone-shaped muqarnas stalactite
ceiling panel 99 x 127.5 cm. (2)

Estimate:

£8,000 - 12,000
€9,500 - 14,000
US$ 12,000 - 18,000

Footnotes

This central fragment of a ceiling panel was interlaced into the rafters supporting the roof and used to cover the beams and joists of the ceiling. The technique is known as artesonado in Spain and is typical of mudéjar architectural craftsmanship. The panel consists of a series of grooved wooden strips arranged in a geometrical pattern on the theme of an eight-pointed star, developed into various geometrical shapes. The wooden strips are grooved and were probably painted. A separate cylindrical wooden piece would have hung from the central hole to hold up a lamp. The balanced composition and intricate geometrical design form are typical of mudéjar style and would probably originally have been painted with a variety of splendid colours. One of the finest examples of mudéjar coffered ceilings can be found at Teruel Cathedral in Spain (see Emilio Rabanaque Martin, El Artesonado de la Catedral de Teruel, Zaragoza 1981).

Category: Islamic and Oriental Art / Islamic and Indian Art

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