Research topic: stalactite ornament

stalactite ornament type of ornament characteristic of Islamic architecture. Generally executed in wood or in plaster over a wood or brick base, it consists of little vertical polygonal or curved niches rising and projecting in rows above one another in such a way as to create a general prismatic, corbeled form. Ingenious and intricate compositions of these elements are possible, and such purely geometric decoration was particularly acceptable to the Muslims in view of the Qur'an's prohibition of the use of natural forms. The primary use of stalactites was to form pendentives in the corners... Read more