Print (lithograph) depicting al-Buraq; multicolored depiction in center; mosque, minarest, flowers and birds in field; border has inscription in Arabic; in lower left hand corner "modele depose, E.B.;
Donor:
Berta Bascom and William Russell Bascom
Verbatim coll. place:
Ghana attr. *
Collector:
William Russell Bascom
Materials:
Paper (fiber product)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Chromolithographs
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Accession date:
1971
Context of use:
Depicts al-Buraq the centaur-like horse who took Mohammed to heaven. Cf. 5-10184 for carving of al-Buraq. *Rene Bravmann believes this print originated in Algeria or Tunesia. Within the broad border and bt. the various medallions is the first verse of Sura 17 of the Koran, known as "the Israelite" or "the Night Journey." The medallions is the upper left and right hand corners carry the names "Muhammad" and "Allah" and the rectangular box just above the wings of al-Buraq is filled with the phrase "al-Buraq, the noble and sympathetic friend." Around the saddle blanket al-Buraq is extolled again - "Praised be he who carried his servant [to] the distant mosque.
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
width 42 centimeters and height 32.3 centimeters
Loans:
S1983-1984 #12: National Museum of African Art (October 3, 1983–May 3, 1984)