Lattice-Work. Previously unknown Bahw window solutions
In April we will be studying a piece that is not normally on display in the Museum’s Permanent Collection.
The recent restoration of a fragment from a wooden lattice from the Nasrid era; the recovery of a number of rails that were in the wrong place; and the restoration of the internal order of the geometric designs, will be the main thread running through this talk on the most commonly used system for closing off window spaces in the Nasrid era, namely lattice-frames.
These pieces filtered the light and offered privacy. Few survive today and most of those that do are incomplete and often in the wrong place.
In structural terms they are made up of a thick frame, partially embedded into the wall and adapted to the shape of the space. They are decorated with incised, tipped, painted rails which in addition to having a structural function, formed a geometric ribbon design. Finally, on the sides of the rails there are a sequence of small notches into which an interlocked framework of battens were inserted. These battens were turned and fastened by reels.
The study of the remaining pieces of this lattice-frame has produced curious results. The design is in fact very simple and is based on the repetition of a single type of rail. The underlying modular background design allows us to understand the original format of this piece which in spite of being out of its original context, gives us a little more insight into its original appearance and of that of this emblematic monument.
- Time: Saturdays at 12.00 h
- Place: Museum of the Alhambra, Palace of Charles V