Compass & straightedge pattern making with Samira Mian With Leighton House & Sambourne House Museums
Workshop 1: Compass & straight edge construction of an hexagonal geometric pattern from the side panels of a Cairene bone & hardwood ornamental wooden table in the Morning Room at Sambourne House.
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Choose an initial radius that fits comfortably on your paper with your compass and ruler. E.g. 9cm on A4 paper or 11cm on A3 paper
Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Outlining the Pattern, with a “correction” to the proportions of the rectangle. This stage can be completed on tracing paper.
Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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Notice this rectangle is slightly taller than the original panel. This is so that the corner shapes are not distorted/squashed whilst staying true to this distinctive and unconventional pattern.
Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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If we did want to tile/repeat this pattern, we would need to vertically extend the pattern so that there corners are the centres of the quarter stars. However, it is not a conventional pattern!
Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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These additional circles allow us to complete the quarter hexagons and their stars in each corner. This rectangle can be traced and tiled.
Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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In this tiling there are some peculiar/unconventional features: Uneven 4 pointed stars where the tiles meet side to side, lack of flow in the lines. Lines not flowing/continuously across the tiling – on one side they meet in an overlap, on the other point to point. This rule breaking isn’t often seen in architecture, but more so when geometry is found in some individual objects, such as this table or a frontispiece in a Quran where the artisan may not be or refer to a geometry specialist, but is clearly accomplished in their own particular field. A counter example, from Les éléments de l'art arabe, Joules Bourgoin, plate 18, shows a pattern and proportions that flow better. Variations of this pattern can be found widely in the Islamic Lands. For example in Morocco, Egypt and Syria.
Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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See the following photo for the embellishments and detailing on this beautiful inlayed table.
Islamic Geometric Patterns with Samira Mian
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