This page was created by Qianqian Wang. The last update was by Yagnaseni Datta.
Reclining Cat: Who made this?
The creator of the reclining cat sculpture lived in the 1100s or 1200s in greater Iran, but we do not know their name. This anonymity is typical for craftsmen of the period, where individual recognition for such work was rare. The maker would have been a skilled artisan, likely working in a specialized workshop that produced metalwork. Such workshops were common in medieval Islamic cultures, where the techniques of metallurgy, inlay, and decorative inscriptions were passed down through generations. The artisan responsible for this piece would have been well-versed in these techniques, as well as the symbolic and aesthetic norms of the time. This craftsman would have operated within a guild or a community of artists that shared and upheld high standards of artistry, often under the patronage of the ruling class or wealthy merchants.