Afruz Amighi
99 Names

ArtistIranian, born 1974
CultureIranian
Titles
  • 99 Names
Date2007
MediumBeads, chain, and plexiglas
Dimensions120 × 70 × 8 in. (304.8 × 177.8 × 20.3 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number2010.211
Current Location
The Caroline Wiess Law Building
114 Islamic Art Gallery
On view

Explore Further

Object Type
DescriptionThe title of this diaphanous sculpture refers to the 99 names of God in Islam and the Sufi practice of dhikr, the ritual recitation of those names. It is also suggestive of the shared religious traditions in Islamic lands. Inspired by the artist’s Zoroastrian father, the work is reminiscent of tasbihs, or prayer beads, used by various religious groups in recitation and prayer. The artist’s transformation of ordinary materials such as metal chains into objects of ethereal effect evokes the spiritual movement from the material realm to the immaterial, divine light of God.
Provenance Research Ongoing Exhibition History"Light of the Sufis: The Mystical Arts of Islam," Brooklyn Museum, New York, June 5 - September 7, 2009; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, May 16 - August 8, 2010.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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Overall front
20th century (probably)
Silver; with decorative wire, turquoise and coral beads, decorative loop-in-loop chains, embossed pendants, and cabochon carnelians
2023.588
Overall front
20th century
Silver with copper inset; fire-gilded, with decorative wire, embossing, stamped beading, turquoise beads, and glass stones
2023.589
Overall front
mid–late 19th century
Silver; fire-gilded and chased, with decorative wire, chains, openwork, and table-cut carnelians.
2023.585
Brooch with Stand
Bruce Metcalf
1977
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Mashrabeya
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late 8th–early 9th century
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Top overall
coin, Qajar Iran, 1914; bowl, Pahlavi Iran, c. 1970s
Silver; repoussé and engraved
2024.290
Cabinet
18th century
Wood; carved, gilt, and painted
2018.295
Recto overall view
18th century
Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
2022.369