This page was created by Qianqian Wang.
Reclining Cat: When was this made?
The reclining cat sculpture was made in the late Seljuk and the early Khwarezmian periods. During this era, Iran was experiencing significant developments in art, science, literature, and architecture. The Seljuk Empire was a melting pot of Persian, Islamic, and Central Asian traditions. This period saw the rise of great poets like Rumi and Omar Khayyam, whose works remain influential to this day. This was also a time of architectural innovation, with the construction of grand mosques and madrasas (educational institutions) that showcased the intricate patterns of Islamic art and calligraphy which have come to be associated with the region. The Seljuks were succeeded by the Khwarezmian dynasty, under which cultural and scientific endeavors continued to flourish until the Mongol invasions of the early 13th century. It was against this backdrop of cultural renaissance that the bronze cat sculpture was crafted. The object's inscriptions and motifs may reflect the intellectual and artistic environment of the time, where people had a desire for knowledge, poetry, and the decorative arts. Moreover, the inlaid copper technique used in the cat's features is indicative of the sophisticated metallurgical and artistic skills that were developed and cherished during this period.