Wood carving flourished in Egypt under Islamic rule, especially during the 11th and 12th centuries. At this time, mosques, palaces, and houses were decorated with wooden architectural friezes. These lintels—serving as beams above doors or as panels affixed to walls in private residences—often offer blessings in the Arabic language. The Kelsey Museum’s examples displayed here all read, “Perfect blessing and complete grace and perpetual happiness” or a fragment thereof. These epigraphic bands thus embellished structures while offering well-wishes to their owners, dwellers, and visitors.
Inscribed Panel
Carved wood
11th–12th centuries CE
Egypt. Purchase from Phocion Tano, 1935. KM 10205
“[Wa] ni‘ma shamila wa sa‘ad[a].”
“And perfect grace and happiness.”
Inscribed Panel
Carved wood
11th–12th centuries CE
Egypt. Purchase from Phocion Tano, 1935. KM 10201
“[Bara]ka kamila wa ni‘ma shamila wa sa‘ada da’[ima].”
“Perfect blessing and complete grace and perpetual happiness.”
Inscribed Panel
Carved wood
11th–12th centuries CE
Egypt. Purchase from Phocion Tano, 1935. KM 10204
“[Shami]la wa sa‘ada da’ima.”
“[Complete] and perpetual happiness.”
Inscribed Panel
Carved wood
11th–12th centuries CE
Egypt. Purchase from Phocion Tano, 1935. KM 10206
“[Ba]raka kamila wa ni‘ma sha[mila].”
“Perfect blessing and [complete] grace.”
Inscribed Panel
Carved wood
11th–12th centuries CE
Egypt. Purchase from Phocion Tano, 1935. KM 10204
“[…] da’ima wa ‘izz li’l-wa[lid?].”
“Perpetual […] and glory to the [son?].”
Although now truncated and unclear, the inscription may have praised the house’s owner by name.
