Painted Koran Writing Board (Lawh)
Anti-Atlas, Morocco
mid-20th century
height: 57.5 cm; width: 32.6 cm
This Koran board or lawh from that part of the Atlas mountains near
Marrakech in Morocco has a soft grey patina from the powdered
pumice used to clean the boards between lessens. It retains lines of
Koranic script to both sides and on one side has been finely painted
with an elaborate panel of script, floral patterns and arabesques in gilt
and polychrome. The artwork is typically Moroccan and was commonly
employed on window shutters, ceilings and doors in wealthier homes
and palaces in Morocco. (See examples below from the Bahia Palace
in Marrakech, built in 1866-7 for the then Grand Vizier.)
Koran boards or lawh were used across Islamic northern Africa by
pupils in Koranic schools as they learned both Arabic and Koranic text
- the learning of Arabic being essential to being able to learn and
recite the Koran. Students would start with the short surahs and
graduate to the longer ones. Once a verse was memorised, water was
used to wash the text off and the student could start again. The water
used to wash the boards was treated with appropriate reverence
given that it was believed to contain the words of God. It was believed
to be useful in helping ward off various afflictions.
Reference: Anti-Atlas lawh are illustrated in: Splendeurs du Maroc,
Musee Royal de l'Afrique Central, Belgium, 1998
Inventory no.: 573
Click here to see some examples of West African lawh.
Anti-Atlas, Morocco
mid-20th century
height: 57.5 cm; width: 32.6 cm
This Koran board or lawh from that part of the Atlas mountains near
Marrakech in Morocco has a soft grey patina from the powdered
pumice used to clean the boards between lessens. It retains lines of
Koranic script to both sides and on one side has been finely painted
with an elaborate panel of script, floral patterns and arabesques in gilt
and polychrome. The artwork is typically Moroccan and was commonly
employed on window shutters, ceilings and doors in wealthier homes
and palaces in Morocco. (See examples below from the Bahia Palace
in Marrakech, built in 1866-7 for the then Grand Vizier.)
Koran boards or lawh were used across Islamic northern Africa by
pupils in Koranic schools as they learned both Arabic and Koranic text
- the learning of Arabic being essential to being able to learn and
recite the Koran. Students would start with the short surahs and
graduate to the longer ones. Once a verse was memorised, water was
used to wash the text off and the student could start again. The water
used to wash the boards was treated with appropriate reverence
given that it was believed to contain the words of God. It was believed
to be useful in helping ward off various afflictions.
Reference: Anti-Atlas lawh are illustrated in: Splendeurs du Maroc,
Musee Royal de l'Afrique Central, Belgium, 1998
Inventory no.: 573
Click here to see some examples of West African lawh.
Examples of traditional Moroccan painting from the interior of
Marrakech's Bahia Palace (built in 1866-7)
Marrakech's Bahia Palace (built in 1866-7)