Woven intricacies of oriental arabesque awaken the memory of a bygone area, where decorative ornaments needled mosques, palaces, and domes with unique wooden motifs. Arabesque, as dubbed by scholars of geometric art and traditional craftsmen, is a “jewel of arts.” Adorning windows and doors throughout Egypt are the geometrical details of arabesque, an art form used by Islamic artists who sought an alternative to use figurative images of living creatures, which was thought by some as religiously undesirable. As a result, interlacing repetitive patterns that flow in and out of each other created a testament to the gorgeous past. Arabesque is one of the most emblematic elements in Islamic art; it is believed to have been birthed in Fatimid Egypt, circa 969 A.D. The nascent Fatimid Caliphate fought many wars, where it was forced to utilize wood to make weapons and military equipment. The remaining wood that was left behind was sent to craftsmen and carpenters, who would then transform it into geometrical shapes. Breaking the rigidity of wooden art, it laces vegetal designs of tendrils and leaves into motifs that exude continuity and immortality. The art further developed during…
