Piece of January. Octagonal Grid

Wednesday, 23 January 2013 11:00 Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 January 2013 11:40 Written by Administrator

The Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife announces the Piece of the Month, the wooden ceiling with a pattern based on an octagonal grid. Those who are interested in participating in this free programme, that will take place from 12 a.m. every Saturday in January, may go to Hall VII of the Museum of the Alhambra. There Gloria Aljazairi, a scholar in Fine Arts, will explain the details of this unique ceiling. 

The wooden ceiling with a pattern based on an octagonal grid is one of the many examples of Hispano-Muslim carpentry held in the Museum of the Alhambra. By means of this woodwork it is possible to understand the handcraft system of the Structural Woodwork (Carpintería de lo Blanco) that was handed down from the Middle Ages to the 17th century. At the same time the keys of a constructive tradition will be brought to light, which succeeded in uniting what is functional and ornamental in the geometrical set of each structure.

In the traditional Hispano-Muslim carpentry some fundamental implements were used, bevels, which, used for cutting and fitting, were intended for the calculation of angles and structural pieces, and also as geometric bevels for decoration by tracing geometric patterns, stars and wheels.

There will also be an analysis of the highly rich lexicon designated in this art to figures, pieces and joints, which are part of the immaterial legacy of Hispano-Muslim geometric decoration.

When: Every Saturday in January, from 12.00 noon onwards
Where: Room VII, Museum of the Alhambra, Palace of Carlos V