Marvellous Creatures: Animal Fables in Islamic Art

Marvellous Creatures focuses on the real and mythical animals that appear in the legends, tales, and fables of the Islamic world. Divided into the natural quadrants of fire, air, earth, and water, these creatures introduce timeless stories such as the wellknown and beloved classics: Shahnameh, Kalila wa Dimna and One Thousand and One Nights. The variety of objects presented in this book—manuscripts, textiles, ceramics, jewellery, glass, and metalwork—ranging from the 10th to the 19th centuries, demonstrates the enduring appeal of these characters and stories across diverse cultures.