Patterns In Islamic Art Biography
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Principles of Islamic art and design
Pre-visit activities
Activities to do in the museum
Activities to do back at school
Islamic art explores the geometric systems that depend upon the regular division of the circle and the study of Islamic art increases appreciation and understanding of geometry. The use of these geometric systems creates a harmony among Islamic decorative arts and architecture, which is consistent with the Islamic belief that all creation is harmoniously interrelated.
Approaching an abstract subject in a concrete way provides a means of extending maths into other curriculum areas. The context of the Museum expands and enriches students' appreciation of the application of geometry in a cultural context and develops the sense of different cultural identities. Students have the opportunity to become familiar with the relationship between geometry and design and this can give confidence to students who have never seen themselves as 'good at art'.
Islamic Middle East (Room 42) and South Asia (Room 41) are referred to in the Museum activities. This resource also suggests activities for students to carry out before and after they visit the Museum.
National curriculum links
The activities based on geometric Islamic patterns in this booklet support learning about shapes, space and measures. Students at Key Stage 1 and 2 can learn to recognise circles, triangles, squares and hexagons, and to create pictures using 2-D shapes. They learn to identify lines of symmetry and to recognise reflective and rotational symmetry. Students at Key Stage 2 and 3 can study transformational and symmetrical patterns to produce tessellations. The activities are particularly useful for cross-curricular links with Art and Technology projects.
Preparation for a visit
We strongly suggest that teachers make a preliminary visit to the V&A and undertake the activities themselves before introducing these to students. Students will need to construct patterns for themselves in order to develop an understanding of how the shapes relate to each other. Allow plenty of time for these activities. Some students may lack the co-ordination required to manipulate a compass. Circular templates with the circumference divided into six or eight equal parts will help to get these students started.
We have provided a triangular grid for producing patterns with triangles and hexagons. We have also provided patterns that can be used to make card templates of the main shapes.
Download triangle grid template (PDF file, 60.4 KB)
Download circular template (PDF file, 116.7 KB)
Download octagon template (PDF file, 43.5 KB)
Download hexagon and triangle template (PDF file, 93.2 KB)
Panel of hexagonal tiles, 1550-1600, Museum numbers 908A to F-1894. © Victoria & Albert Museum, London
Panel of hexagonal tiles, fritware painted and glazed, Turkey or Syria, 1550-1600, Museum numbers 908A to F-1894. © Victoria & Albert Museum, London
Principles of Islamic art & design
Islamic faith
Islamic faith is based on the Islamic holy book, the Qur'an (sometimes spelt Koran), which followers of Islam believe to be the word of God as revealed through the Archangel Gabriel to the Prophet Mohammed in the early 7th century. The Prophet was born in Arabia in about AD 571 and died in AD 632. By the early eighth century Islam had spread by military conquest westward as far as Spain and eastward to Samarqand and the Indus Valley. Islam continued to expand, into Turkey and deeper into the Indian subcontinent, into north-western China and South-East Asia. Followers of Islam are called Muslims.
Art and design
The Islamic faith provides laws to govern both religious observance and social behaviour. While the Qur'an contains no specific prohibition on figural imagery, most interpretations of Islamic law have tended to discourage such imagery as potentially idolatrous, and figural elements such as pictures are rigorously excluded from most religious settings. However, there is a continuous tradition of using figures as part of decorative schemes in non-religious contexts, particularly in the illustration of books.
Islamic decoration consists of three main elements, which are often combined in the decorative scheme on a single object:
calligraphy in various forms of Arabic script (Arabic is the language of the Qur'an and therefore of God, and has a special significance in Islamic culture)
arabesques, scrollwork and other floral or plant-like designs
geometrical designs using a limited number of geometric shapes in many different ways
Geometry in Islamic design
The use of geometry is important in the development of Islamic ornament, whatever form it takes. Circles, for example, are crucial in designing arabesque patterns, and even calligraphy has been described as 'spiritual geometry.' The use of purely geometric elements to create elaborate patterns, though, has become a sophisticated form of decoration on its own. The appeal of Islamic geometric decoration lies in its logical interrelation of parts, reflecting in abstract form the underlying order found in nature.
Among the most important aspects of Islamic geometric design are repetition and variation. A series of tiles, for example, may consist of only one or two shapes but the patterns of the tiles may all be different. In other designs, a few different shapes may be combined to create a complex interlocking pattern.
Symmetry plays a part in most Islamic patterns. There may be a single line of reflective symmetry, usually from the top to the bottom, or there may be three or four lines of symmetry. Straight (translation) and turning (rotational) movements are also used. Sometimes reflective symmetry and the two kinds of movement are found in the same design. Symmetry and repetition give unity to the more complex designs, as in this panel with a pattern based on pentagons.
Circular tray of al-Nasir Nuhammad, 14th century, Museum no. 420-1854. © Victoria & Albert Museum, London
Circular tray of al-Nasir Nuhammad, brass inlaid with silver and gold, Egypt or Syria, 14th century, Museum no. 420-1854. © Victoria & Albert Museum, London
Pre-visit activities
Most of the patterns that your students will see in the Islamic objects at the V&A are based on the equilateral triangle and the square. Both can be made by using only a compass and a straightedge, and both can fit within a circle so that all points touch the circumference. Patterns based on equilateral triangles and hexagons are easy to make using a compass and straightedge because the radius of a circle divides its circumference into six equal parts.
When working with a compass it is a good idea to place a piece of thin card under the piece of paper on which you are drawing as this will help to stop the compass point from slipping. The pencil leg should always be a little longer than the stationary leg and the weight of your hand should be over the point to keep it in position and upright.
Triangles and hexagons
Open the compass about two inches and press the point into the paper. This is the 'invisible' starting point from which the design will unfold. Draw a circle with the compass.
Put the compass point anywhere on the circumference of the circle and swing the pencil leg so that a mark is made on the circumference. Move the point of the compass to the pencil mark and make another pencil mark on the circumference. Continue doing this round the circle until there are six marks. From these six marks the series of hexagons and six-pointed stars illustrated here can be made.
Drawing stars within a hexagon
Drawing stars within a hexagon
Join up the points in sequence round the circle to make the six-sided polygon, a hexagon. This has three pairs of parallel lines
Next join up every second point. You now have an equilateral triangle
Join up the other three points and you have a second equilateral triangle. Together these two triangles make up a star. One triangle points up to heaven, the other points down to earth. Three pairs of parallel lines make up the star. In the middle of the star is another hexagon
Joining up every second point of the inner hexagon, makes another equilateral triangle in the inner hexagon. Joining up the other points makes a second equilateral triangle and another six-pointed star with a hexagon in the middle
This pattern can go on and on. In this sequence of patterns the stars and hexagons change position
In another sequence the points are always in the same position.
Six-pointed stars within a hexagon
Six-pointed stars within a hexagon
This is done by joining up the centres of the lines of the hexagons to make the triangles. To find the centres, lightly draw lines joining the opposite points of the star.
These lines will cross the sides of the inner hexagon in the middle.You can now join up the centres of every second line to make one equilateral triangle and the centres of the other three lines to make a star.
Download triangle grid template (PDF file, 60.4 KB)
The triangular or isometric grid template can be used to make patterns of hexagons and six-pointed stars. We suggest you tape a clean sheet of paper over the grid and draw on the plain paper using the grid as a guide. This has the advantage of allowing the pattern to develop without the grid becoming too much of a distraction.
Patterns on an isometric grid
Patterns on isometric grid
Point out to students that the grid can be used either horizontally or vertically depending on the pattern you are making. Ready-printed isometric paper is available from educational suppliers.
For a simple design start by colouring a small hexagon made up of six triangles. A triangle added to each of the sides of the hexagon will then make a six-pointed star. The star can be enclosed in a bigger hexagon by adding six diamonds. A bigger star and a bigger hexagon can then be made and so on.
Squares and octagons
The eight-pointed star which is made of two overlapping squares in a circle, is the basis of many Islamic patterns (1 & 2).
Squares and octagons
Squares and octagons
Notice the four pairs of parallel lines that make up the eight-pointed star. Joining up the points will make an octagon. In the centre of the eight-pointed star is another octagon (3).
The points of the eight-pointed star are short. In some designs, the sides of the squares in both directions are extended to create eight larger points (4).
Other designs are constructed by making a cross from the eight-pointed star. In many patterns, this cross is combined with the short-pointed eight-pointed star (5).
Download circular template (PDF file, 116.0 KB)
Make circular templates with the circumference divided into eight equal parts. Show students how to use these circle templates to make the octagon, the short-pointed eight-pointed star and the cross.
Another way to form a template is to fold a square of paper in half from corner to corner to form a triangle, fold this triangle in half and then in half again. Open it out, put your compass point in the centre where the fold lines cross and draw a circle. The fold lines will divide the circumference of the circle into eight. Join these points to make an octagon.
Shape recognition and shape groups
Students will need to have a good shape vocabulary and be adept at recognising shapes (circle, triangle, square, hexagon, octagon, six-pointed star, eight-pointed star, and regular and irregular polygons) to get the most from their visit to the Museum. Practice by doing some shape recognition exercises. Provide students with large-scale triangular grid paper, or use a triangular template, and ask them to cut out mosaic pieces and arrange them to form specific patterns. Create stars and other shapes using drinking straws.
Students also need to understand the relationship between groups of shapes: those based on three and six divisions of a circle are equilateral triangles; hexagons and six-pointed stars and those based on four and eight divisions of a circle are squares, octagons and eight-pointed stars. These groupings will determine how shapes fit together and which grids are used for making patterns.
In the Museum
Before coming to the Museum, make sure you have prepared and brought with you; copies of the triangular grid paper templates, some plain paper and coloured pencils (but not felt pens, they are not allowed in the Museum).
If you plan to do the activity in the Islamic Middle East gallery (room 42) based on the minbar you should take ready-cut octagon, octagonal stars and irregular hexagon shapes.
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
Patterns In Islamic Art Islamic Art Calligraphy And Architecture Designs Patterns Wallpapers Desktop Wallpapers Hd Calligraphy Wallpapers Calligraphy Canvas Wallpapers Canvas
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