The V & A's mysterious Mamluk minbar

Abstract

This paper concentrates on the historical importance of a large furniture object, a pulpit from a mosque (minbar). During the development of 3D imaging practice in the V&A Museum, this large object was selected as a candidate object to test modelling technology. During the course of this trial an Islamic scholar was consulted to assist in the collation of legacy data concerning the minbar. A comparison was made between the V&A object and the possible site of origin in Cairo. The resulting 3D model of the V&A minbar was compared to range scans of the possible mosque of origin in Cairo. An understanding of the potential for virtual re-patriation was recognised as a possible outcome of this collaborative technical approach. This investigation led to the discovery of an interesting and unusual history of the acquisition of the object which is discussed in this paper. 3D scans of calligraphic panels assisted in the translation of previously unknown descriptions