Calligraphy and Architecture in the Muslim World

From Spain to China, Islamic architecture and calligraphy are inexorably intertwined. Mosques, dervish lodges, mausolea, libraries, even baths and market places bear masterpieces of calligraphy that rival the most refined of books and scrolls. This major reference work focuses on architectural inscriptions through the Muslim world, some going back to the Middle Ages, others dating from our own lifetime. What were the purposes of these inscriptions? How do they infuse buildings with cultural...