Arabesques: Decorative Art in Morocco

by Jean-Marc Castera, Fran oise Peuriot, Philippe Ploquin

Provides keys to the understanding of Moroccan architecture and geometical arabesques.

Hardcover

First published March 1, 2009

Reviews

[Mark Bolton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of print in English, but found a copy in a bookshop in Marrakech. French language version appears to still be in print.

A lavishly illustrated book, with examples largely drawn from Morocco but also including the wider Islamic world and the Alhambra. Provides a method for recreating both 2D and 3D designs illustrated, and works up from simple 2D designs through to 96 point stars and three dimensional arches and domes using real life examples from, for example, the Ben Youssef Madrasa and Dar Si Said in Marrakech.

Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in geometric art, tessellations, mosaic, and arabesques.

There are so many beautiful illustrations, I would suggest the French version may be worth trying if you cannot obtain a copy in English.

[Aneel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazingly beautiful book that covers floral arabesques, calligraphic designs, geometric tilings, and muqarnas with hundreds of pages of gorgeous color photographs. Focuses on the design elements of tilings, with descriptions of how various patterns are derived and how to lay out new works.