Middle East Fan 11th c.

    Fan composed of a wooden handle and folded parchment spreading out into a disc with edging underlined with red and blue palmettes alternating with cruciform patterns. The letters in Kufic script form the Arabic word "Alyumm" ("Happiness"). This item may be supposed to have been brought back long with other booty from an expedition to the East, maybe from the Crusade, and deposited among the cathedral treasure.

Dimensions of the object
L.  : 73 cm. ; D. 20 cm.

Bibliography
Italie des Normands, Normandie des Plantagenêts, Musée de Normandie, Caen, 1995, n° 24.

Location
Canosa, Tesoro della Cattedrale

Photography : D.R.