Animals were central to everyday life across the Byzantine and Islamic worlds, woven into the rhythms of work, food production, and artistic expression. They were not only sources of sustenance but also provided essential craft materials such as leather, wool, bone, and ivory. Many animals served as laborers and companions as well, transporting people and goods across vast landscapes, contributing to agricultural production, and shaping urban life.
The objects shown here reflect two aspects of human-animal relationships: the utilitarian uses of animals and their symbolic presence in the visual culture of the Byzantine and Islamic worlds. Animal products often found a “second life” as tools, decorative goods, or gaming pieces—ivory, for instance, was transformed into intricately carved objects that blended craftsmanship with the natural qualities of the material.
Camels, emblematic of arid landscapes, are especially notable as beasts of burden. Here, small figurines capture the camel’s form, bringing a familiar figure of the external world into the intimate space of the home. Horses and deer, too, appear frequently in visual culture, often idealized in textiles and ceramics. These representations speak to more than admiration—they reflect animals’ roles in identity, status, and the imagined world of domestic spaces.
