Diana Grigoryan & Izabella BakchajianProfessor: Dr. Leanna Wolfe

Anthropology 121

LACMA Photo Inventory

The letter “Kaf”. • By Ali Omar Ernes

Written in Arabic, can be seen as Islamic art. Contemporary artists use these single letters as an art form, an expression of their cultural, or religious identity.

The letter “KAF”

Also known as (Partial)

Syria, late 12th early 13th century.

These monochromatic glazed polygonal tiles were used for wall decorations as well as for flooring. The specific tiles shown in the picture used to be part of a floor. They were mostly used in Syria and Diyarbakr (northeastern Anatolia).

Tile Floor

Iran, Kashan, early 14th century.

A mirab is a characteristic architectural element in mosques, and tombs throught out the Islamic world. It emphasizes the direction of Mecca toward which Muslim prayer us oriented. The upper panel has an inscription of a passage from the Qur’an that refers to Paradise.

Section of a Mibrab

The Qur’an, 114 chapters, were divided for the purpose of recitation. One section could be read out loud each day of the month, mainly during Ramadan, the month of fasting.

The text was written seven lines per page in an elegant cursive known as “muhaqqaq”, which may be translated as “meticulously produced.” It is the surviving leather that makes the manuscript so rare.

Section of a Qur’an

Some sculptures of ancient Mayans. Although this is not how they actually looked like. It is just to give us an idea of there looks and body shapes.

Known as a women’s blouse

In the Tz’utujil speaking town of Santiago Atitlan, weavers wuld include aspects of their sacred landscape into their designs.

The 3 mountains around the neck line on both sides relate the people of the town to the center of the cosmos, where 3 mountains arose from the primordial waters as the initial acts of creation

Huipil

This is by Miguel Gonzalez; oil on canvas on wood, inlaid with mother of pearl.

The enconchado technique is placing small pieces of mother of pearl onto a wooden support or canvas then covering them with a yellowish tint.

This picture is the famous Virgin of Guadalupe placed on top of an eagle sitting on a cactus.

The frame is decorated with symbols of the Litany of the Virgin which is Japanese lacquerwork.

Virgin of Guadalupe

Male figure in guise of Xipe Totec

Mexico, Aztec, 1400-1521

Xipe Totec means “Our lord the flayed one” was the god of springtime and the renewal of vegetation.

Ritual Life: Divination and Power

Royal responsibilities not only included social, ecnomic, and political affairs but also ritual performance.

These were used for the Ritual dance; humans symbolically took on the characteristics of their supernatural patrons in order to show their actions.

Bold and Beautiful: The Jewelry of South India

T he dramatic traditional jewelry of south India differs in material, technique, form and cultural meaning.

Gold, and, to a lesser extent, silver are they preferred mediums.

Water Jar

It is also known as a Babb

These were filled with water and used to serve.

The clay helps keep the water cool.

It is associated specifically with Iraq

Museum Photos

• Diana & Izabella went to the museum together so they decided to do their photo inventory together. We did a few more than 10 slides only because we are two people. Thank you.