Books

Islamic Geometric Patterns ( with CD-Rom) - Eric Broug
Published by Thames & Hudson 2008 (ISBN: 0500-28721X)
£14.95 /US$21.95
128 pages

Traditional Islamic craftsmen weren't mathematicians, they had practical knowledge of geometry, their tools for making geometrical designs were a compass and a ruler. This book uses the same design principle. It demonstrates how Islamic craftsmen would draw a hexagon and a pentagon with only their tools of a compass and a ruler. The method used in this book is new and innovative; it makes it easy for enthusiasts of any age to learn how to make their own designs.

The book contains twenty different geometrical designs, ranging from simple to complex. All designs are related to a location in the Islamic world where they can be found. For example, there are designs from:

- the Great Mosque of Cordoba, Spain
- the Mustansiriya Mosque in Baghdad, Iraq
- the Esrefoglu Mosque in Beysehir, Turkey
- the Sheikh Abd al-Samad Complex in Natanz, Iran
- the tomb of Bibi Jawindi in Uch, Pakistan
- the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria
- the Tomb of Jalal al-Din Hussein in Uzgen, Kirgizstan

The book is accompanied with an interactive CD-Rom that contains all twenty designs presented as animations, printable gridpaper PDF's, printable colouring designs, interactive photographs and an extensive photogallery showing highlights of Islamic geometrical compositions.

Some sample pages:

This book was originally published in Dutch:

Islamitische Geometrische Patronen Zelf Ontwerpen en Maken (met CD-Rom)
Published bij Bulaaq Publishers 2007.

ISBN: 9054601345
€24.50

Now also available in Persian:

Recommended!

My favourite books on Islamic art and architecture

There are hundreds of books available on Islamic art, architecture and design. As an MA student of Islamic art and architecture and as a bookseller in a Middle Eastern bookshop in London , I have had the opportunity to study many of them. The selection presented here represents some of the most interesting and best books for a general audience:

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My favourite websites on Islamic art and architecture

Archnet International online community, with a focus on Muslim cultures and civilizations.	AKPIA The Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard University and MIT
Patterns in Islamic Art Excellent website on Islamic geometric design by author David Wade	Islamic Arts and Architecture Organisation (IAAO) An informative website, with a focus on Islamic art, architecture & numismatics
The Islamic art collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts Collection of Islamic art objects with descriptions	World Heritage Tour Visit hundreds of World Heritage sites with 360 degree panoramas
Anthony Ralph Gallery Commercial gallery with an interesting selection of ceramic tiles	The Islamic art collection of the Los Angeles County Museum Collection of Islamic art objects with descriptions
Shiro Takahashi on Muqarnas A comprehensive and authoritative database of muqarnas compositions	The Creswell Archive at the Ashmolean Museum A searchable database of Creswell's photo negatives collection
The H-Islamart Network of Historians of Islamic Art The online network for historians of Islamic art and architecture	Bonner Design Consultancy Jay Bonner is specialised in architectural ornamentation
Artserve at the Australian National University An excellent art historical visual archive with a focus on Islamic architecture	Sakkal Mamoun Sakkal is specialised in arabic typography and calligraphy
The Louvre Islamic Art Collection Collection of Islamic art objects with descriptions	Eterea Estudios Digital interpretations of Persian architecture by designer Cristóbal Vila
Ian Gibson NADFAS-accredited lecturer on Asian and Islamic Art, also London Blue Badge Guide