A wall covered in zellīj at the Ben Youssef Madrasa in Marrakesh
Zellij (Arabic: الزليج, romanized: zillīj; also spelled zillij or zellige) is a style of mosaic tilework made from individually hand-chiseled tile pieces.[1]: 335 [2]: 41 [3]: 166 The pieces were typically of different colours and fitted together to form various patterns on the basis of tessellations, most notably elaborate Islamic geometric motifs such as radiating star patterns composed of various polygons.[1][4][5][6] This form of Islamic art is one of the main characteristics of architecture in the western Islamic world. It is found in the architecture of Morocco, the architecture of Algeria, early Islamic sites in Tunisia, and in the historic monuments of al-Andalus (in the Iberian Peninsula). From the 14th century onwards, zellij became a standard decorative element along lower walls, in fountains and pools, on minarets, and for the paving of floors.[1][5]
After the 15th century the traditional mosaic zellij fell out of fashion in most countries except for Morocco, where it continues to be produced today.[1]: 414–415 Zellij is found in modern buildings making use of traditional designs such as the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca which adds a new color palette with traditional designs.[7] The influence of zellij patterns was also evident in Spanish tiles produced during the Renaissance period and is seen in some modern imitations painted on square tiles.[8]: 102 [2]: 41
^ abcdMarçais, Georges (1954). L'architecture musulmane d'Occident. Paris: Arts et métiers graphiques.
^ abCite error: The named reference :122 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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^Touri, Abdelaziz; Benaboud, Mhammad; Boujibar El-Khatib, Naïma; Lakhdar, Kamal; Mezzine, Mohamed (2010). Andalusian Morocco: A Discovery in Living Art (2 ed.). Ministère des Affaires Culturelles du Royaume du Maroc & Museum With No Frontiers. ISBN 978-3902782311.
^ abCite error: The named reference BloomBlair2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Broug, Eric (2008). Islamic Geometric Patterns. London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0-500-28721-7.
^Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Zellij (Arabic: الزليج, romanized: zillīj; also spelled zillij or zellige) is a style of mosaic tilework made from individually hand-chiseled tile pieces...
elaborate geometric and arabesque motifs in wood, stucco, and tilework (notably zellij). Over time, it made increasing use of surface decoration while also retaining...
and architecture. These include kilim carpets, Persian girih and Moroccan zellij tilework, muqarnas decorative vaulting, jali pierced stone screens, ceramics...
the 8th century, except for geometrical patterns in techniques such as zellij, which remain popular in many areas. Modern mosaics are made by artists...
the hall was a fountain flanked by two water basins covered in delicate zellij decoration and fed with water spurting from silver sculptures of animals...
patterns, arabesques, and muqarnas. Its floors are paved with marble and zellij tiles. Among its most famous elements are the cedar-wood ceilings painted...
Moorish architecture, including carved and painted wood, carved stucco, and zellij (mosaic tilework). The center of larger houses could also be occupied by...
Duthoit requested that parts of the celebrated tile mosaic decoration (zellij) of the madrasa be removed for preservation in a French museum. Portions...
architecture with Art Deco touches. The Maret Building features a colorful zellij-covered dome. The Maret Building has 7 floors including a ground floor....
in manufacture, for example the small, almost mosaic, brightly colored zellij tiles of Morocco and the surrounding countries. The earliest evidence of...
and elaborate geometric and arabesque motifs in wood, carved stucco, and zellij tilework. Although Moroccan Amazigh architecture is not strictly separate...
of the Notre Dame of Paris or St Peter's of Rome. The woodcarvings, the zellij work and the stucco mouldings are of elaborate and highly impressive design;...
as the Ligurian laggion) is derived from the Arabic الزليج (al-zillīj), zellij meaning "polished stone" because the original idea was to imitate the Byzantine...
which makes use of pools, gardens, fountains, and surfaces covered in zellij (mosaic tilework) and intricately carved stucco and wood. In particular...
tombstones of finely carved marble, while others are merely covered in colorful zellij tiles. Al-Mansur's mausoleum chamber is especially rich in decoration, with...
dome of mahogany wood with coloured glass, while the walls are covered in zellij tiling. Some elements are finished with chased brass. The cenotaph of Mohammed...
in the 19th century, was celebrated for its rich decoration, especially zellij tile decoration with advanced arabesque and geometric motifs whose style...
and elaborate geometric and arabesque motifs in wood, carved stucco, and zellij tilework. Although Moroccan Amazigh architecture is not strictly separate...
horses. The walls of the palace were decorated and rich decoration including zellij (tile mosaic) and carved stucco.: 137–144 Among the decorative motifs were...
VII. Carved stucco (or yesería in Spanish) and mosaic tilework (zilīj or zellij in Arabic; alicatado in Spanish) were used for wall decoration, while ceilings...
of which are lavishly decorated with sculpted wood, carved stucco, and zellij mosaic tilework. The Bou Inania Madrasa in Fes, built in 1350–1355, distinguished...
turn is surrounded by geometric decoration and more epigraphic decoration. Zellij (mosaic tilework) decorated the lower portions of the wall. Three windows...
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