Assouline

Mosques: The 100 Most Iconic Islamic Houses of Worship

S$1,320

Houses of worship have served as a benchmark for the heights of human achievement since time immemorial—the more noble the holy shrine, the more noble the society. Over the centuries civilizations have considered their own worth against the splendor of the local religious structure, and built to exacting standards and to scales previously unimaginable, and empires have asserted their dominance over lands and populations by virtue of the holy structures erected.

This is particularly true in Islam, a religion whose structures proliferated across the known world of the “Islamic Golden Age,” coterminous with the West’s “Dark Ages.” The birth of geometry and the invention of the double dome are but two inventions that contributed to the architectural splendor of the mosque. However, the mosque is much more than just a house of worship. It plays a complex role as an institution in which religious instruction is often given and a social center in which marriages and community meetings can take place. Wherever the mosque is built, it strives to be integrated into the sociological and urban landscape. It also plays the role of informing the architecture of the surrounding city and influencing its inhabitants.

While all mosques stem from a common tradition of reverence, differing sects, regions and practices have led to many innovations and novel architectural forms. Mosques is the latest addition to the “Ultimate collection,” and is a journey though centuries and continents that brings readers to the threshold of 100 of the world’s most historically significant buildings that are home to worshippers of the fastest growing, and second largest, religion in the world.

Complimentary white gloves and signature canvas tote bag are included with each purchase from Assouline's Ultimate Collection 

Bernard O’Kane is Professor of Islamic Art and Architecture at the American University in Cairo, where he has been teaching since 1980. He has also been a visiting professor at Harvard University and the University of California at Berkeley. He is the author of Timurid Architecture in Khurasan (1987), Studies in Persian Art and Architecture (1995), Early Persian Painting: Kalila and Dimna Manuscripts of the Late Fourteenth Century (2003), The World of Islamic Art (2007), The Appearance of Persian on Islamic Art (2009), The Illustrated Guide to the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo (2012) and The Mosques of Egypt (2016).

  • 232 pages
  • over 100 illustrations
  • English language
  • Released in June 2019
  • W 38.9 x L 47.9 x D 7.4 cm
  • Handcrafted in a luxury cloth clamshell case
  • ISBN: 9781614286967
  • 8.8 kg

If the content of your order arrives damaged, or is incorrect, you are eligible for a refund or replacement delivery (pending availability). If you received a damaged item, please email orders@assouline.com with your order number, details of the damage and photos if possible.
If you wish to return your order for any other reason, we allow returns for exchange or merchandise credit only within 14 days of delivery. No refunds. Please note you will be responsible for the return shipping cost. Please email orders@assouline.com to begin the return process. Items must be returned in the same condition in which they were received and within 14 days of the delivery date. Exchanges and credit are applicable only at the original point of purchase.

Assouline is a true luxury brand for culture; their books combine intellect and emotion in an unforgettable world of timeless beauty and sophistication. With unwavering respect for the product and artisanship, their limited editions bring haute couture to the coffee-table as fashion brands bring their designs to our closets. Assouline pledges to plant one tree for every book sold, nurturing the environment through every sale.

Assouline

Mosques: The 100 Most Iconic Islamic Houses of Worship

S$1,320

Houses of worship have served as a benchmark for the heights of human achievement since time immemorial—the more noble the holy shrine, the more noble the society. Over the centuries civilizations have considered their own worth against the splendor of the local religious structure, and built to exacting standards and to scales previously unimaginable, and empires have asserted their dominance over lands and populations by virtue of the holy structures erected.

This is particularly true in Islam, a religion whose structures proliferated across the known world of the “Islamic Golden Age,” coterminous with the West’s “Dark Ages.” The birth of geometry and the invention of the double dome are but two inventions that contributed to the architectural splendor of the mosque. However, the mosque is much more than just a house of worship. It plays a complex role as an institution in which religious instruction is often given and a social center in which marriages and community meetings can take place. Wherever the mosque is built, it strives to be integrated into the sociological and urban landscape. It also plays the role of informing the architecture of the surrounding city and influencing its inhabitants.

While all mosques stem from a common tradition of reverence, differing sects, regions and practices have led to many innovations and novel architectural forms. Mosques is the latest addition to the “Ultimate collection,” and is a journey though centuries and continents that brings readers to the threshold of 100 of the world’s most historically significant buildings that are home to worshippers of the fastest growing, and second largest, religion in the world.

Complimentary white gloves and signature canvas tote bag are included with each purchase from Assouline's Ultimate Collection 

Bernard O’Kane is Professor of Islamic Art and Architecture at the American University in Cairo, where he has been teaching since 1980. He has also been a visiting professor at Harvard University and the University of California at Berkeley. He is the author of Timurid Architecture in Khurasan (1987), Studies in Persian Art and Architecture (1995), Early Persian Painting: Kalila and Dimna Manuscripts of the Late Fourteenth Century (2003), The World of Islamic Art (2007), The Appearance of Persian on Islamic Art (2009), The Illustrated Guide to the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo (2012) and The Mosques of Egypt (2016).

  • 232 pages
  • over 100 illustrations
  • English language
  • Released in June 2019
  • W 38.9 x L 47.9 x D 7.4 cm
  • Handcrafted in a luxury cloth clamshell case
  • ISBN: 9781614286967
  • 8.8 kg

If the content of your order arrives damaged, or is incorrect, you are eligible for a refund or replacement delivery (pending availability). If you received a damaged item, please email orders@assouline.com with your order number, details of the damage and photos if possible.
If you wish to return your order for any other reason, we allow returns for exchange or merchandise credit only within 14 days of delivery. No refunds. Please note you will be responsible for the return shipping cost. Please email orders@assouline.com to begin the return process. Items must be returned in the same condition in which they were received and within 14 days of the delivery date. Exchanges and credit are applicable only at the original point of purchase.

Assouline is a true luxury brand for culture; their books combine intellect and emotion in an unforgettable world of timeless beauty and sophistication. With unwavering respect for the product and artisanship, their limited editions bring haute couture to the coffee-table as fashion brands bring their designs to our closets. Assouline pledges to plant one tree for every book sold, nurturing the environment through every sale.

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