Clear diagrams and a detailed explanatory text: an inspirational guide for craftspeople and artists everywhere. Includes a CD-ROM.


The marvels of Islamic patterns—the most recognizable visual expression of Islamic art and architecture—are not just a beautiful accident. The ancient practitioners of this craft used traditional methods of measurement to create dazzling geometric compositions, often based on the repetition of a single pattern. The results are magnificent in their beauty and awe-inspiring in their execution.


Now, with the aid of this book, everyone can learn how to master this ancient art and create their own intricate patterns or re-create classic examples. All one needs are a pencil, a ruler, a compass, and a steady hand. First, technical tips demonstrate the basics: how to draw a square, hexagon, or pentagon. This is followed by some of the best examples of geometric patterns from around the world, arranged into three levels of complexity, with careful, step-by-step instructions.


The book features geometric patterns from some of the most famous and beautiful Islamic architecture and art, including:
• La Mezquita, Cordoba
• Capella Palatina, Sicily
• Mustansiriya Madrasa, Baghdad
• Umayyad Mosque, Damascus
• Mosque of al-Salih Tala'I, Cairo
• The Koran of Rashid al-Din