The Art of the Muslim Knights: The Furusyya Art Foundation Collection

by Bashir Mohamed

The Arab tradition of al-furusiyya is defined by principles of horsemanship, chivalry, and the mutual dependence of man and horse. This publication presents half of the Furusiyya Art Foundation’s entire collection, which includes Islamic art relating to the Muslim chevalier from the eighth, ninth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries. The collection includes a number of cane shields, archery material, armor for man and horse, sword pommels, guards and sabers, as well as daggers and belts carried by the courtly chevaliers. Describing the artistry and beauty of the antique pieces, the focus narrows in on the use of decoration and great craftsmanship, the technological innovations that were developed, as well as looking at the different cultures of the Islamic world.

Genres: History

416 pages, Hardcover

First published September 16, 2008

Reviews

[Linda C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated tome depicting the various arms and armor used by Muslim knights throughout the centuries and over vast geographic regions. I saw a portion of the arms depicted in this book at an exhibit in Paris, France at the Institut du Monde Arabe in 2007. I am pleased that this volume is written in English, so I do not have to struggle with translating as I did in the museum.

This book is a marvelous resource for anyone interested in medieval weaponry.