Q. & A. 711 to 1707 with solved Papers css 1971 to date

Fatimid Glass and Crystal of Egypt and Syria
Under the Fatimids the glass industry of Egypt, and to some extent that of Syria, reached a high standard. The main centres of the Egyptian industry were Fustat, Medinat al-Fayum, and Alexandria which had been the chief centre of the Roman industry. Fustat seems to have been the chief centre under the Fatimids, and there the various techniques used in the Tulunid period were perfected. Some
of the finest and most luxurious glass \\as made for the use of the Fatimid court, known for its richness and splendour The decoration of the Fatimid glass is either based on earlier designs or shows the new style features developed by contemporary Egyptian artists. To this period may be assigned two graceful bottles with molded decoration one has a lozenge diaper in low relief, the other has a globular body and straight long neck and shows many interesting technical features. Fatimid Textiles of Egypt
Magnificent textiles were produced in the Fatimid period, even surpassing those of the Abbasid period. The cloth made of linen and silk become extremely fine and was greatly admired by travellers, one source tells us that the texture of cairene fabrics was so fine that a whole robe could be passed through a finger ring. In the arrangement of inscriptions and ornament the Fatimid weavers followed the scheme developed under the Abbasids. A broad band with geometrical or animal decoration is flanked by inscriptions. The Kufic writing at first followed the Abbasid prototype, as may be seen on a linen in the museum inscribed with the name of the Fatimid Caliph al-Aziz bi’llah (976-96). The tall elegant letters of this inscription are in yellow silk outlined in blue. In another piece of the same period, the inscription is in yellow silk on a blue ground.
The ripe Fatimid period developed new types of Kufic letters, so called Kufic fleury, in which some of the letters end palmette scrolls. A fine example of luxurious Fatimid weave is a portion of a linen cloth ; it is decorated with horizontal bands, the central one with pairs of falcons, v\hich with palmettes from an intermittent scroll an a green ground the pattern is tapestry-woven in still and gold threads of gilded gold beater’s skin. The style of the pattern is characteristic of the period of the Caliph al-Mustansir, who reigned from 1036 to 1094. Such fine fabrics decorated all over with gold tapestry may be identified with garments called badana made at Tuinis for the exclusive use of the Caliph.3
I albot Rice. P 92