Useful Links, Information, Publications

The universe of the World Wide Web is a remarkable resource. Sadly, it changes constantly. Please report broken links.

Reference and Photograph Collections;

Pattern in Islamic Art: An outstanding collection of photographs of pattern by David Wade.

Tiling Search: A database of patterns, as their ideal mathematical forms. A different point of view based on the work of A.J. Lee. The best place to ask “where is that pattern found?” as it is searchable by geometry.

Flickr: Often overlooked as a source of pattern reference photographs. Millions of people roaming the world with digital cameras! Remember when searching that people will often title their pictures in their own language.

The Victoria and Albert Museum, the V&A: Due to their peculiar founding mission, the V&A has a large collection of interest.

The Smithsonian Institution Digital Archives: America’s attic. The archives have several interesting collections including the papers of Ernst Herzfeld, an early photographic documenter of the area.

The Library of Congress: The digital collections are our national source collection for reference photos and documents from around the world. We collect everything so the coverage is vast. The huge collection of 19th century photographs is worth browsing.

Sites with a broad view:

Archnet: From their site: Developed by Aga Khan Documentation Center at MIT as a resource focused on architecture, urbanism, environmental and landscape design, visual culture, and conservation issues, with a particular focus on Muslim societies. Extensive historical coverage with over 120,000 total images, publications, video, and pedagogical tools.

Thesaurus Islamicus The Islamic Art Foundation: A very interesting collection of photographs, articles, books and other resources.

Encyclopedia Iranica: A remarkable website with an interesting scope.

Catnaps: The website of an architect who spent his working life in the Arabian peninsula. An interesting view of the modern cities as well as thoughts on pattern.

Major Publications Available on line:

The Topkapi Scrolls, Gülru Necipoğlu, The Getty Museum Virtual Library: Possibly the best “single publication” on pattern and a rare primary source from the original geometers. Free to download.

Denkmäler persischer Baukunst, Friederich Sarre: An excellent resource, in German, worth study for the plates alone. The second volume of beautifully reproduced plates is also available.

The publications of the Comité de Conservation des Monuments: The publications of the Comité de Conservation des Monuments de l'Art Arabe in Cairo. Persée holds a number of interesting publications. Site in French and (sort of) English.

Bourgoin’s Famous Publication, Les éléments de l'art arabe : le trait des entrelacs; The National Library of France also holds other interesting titles.