Crafting medieval Spain

Architecture like the Torrijos Ceiling next to you was typical of the fusion of ornamental styles in Spain and the Iberian Peninsula. Muslim, Christian and Jewish cultures coexisted there for hundreds of years until the Christian conquest in 1492.

Legible Arabic inscriptions were frequent in this kind of architecture, but this didn’t always mean that they were created by or for Muslims. Christians and Jews in Spain and across the Peninsula also spoke Arabic. The objects here represent the most common materials used to embellish medieval buildings: ceramic tiles, carved or moulded plaster, and wood.

Written by: Mariam Rosser-Owen, Asia Curator
Published: May 2025

Sourcebook for Design