This Festschrift on Islamic art is arranged by the medium used: glass, metal, rock crystal, ivory etc. Many of the authors present a study of a particular piece of art such as the "Emerald" of Charlemagne, now known to be lead glass, or a gilt glass bottle thought to come from twelfth-century Iraq. Others cover groups of artifacts, metal door-knockers, ivory boxes made for the Crusader market, enameled dragon art from Tibet. There are four essays on Islamic illustrated manuscripts including one on a world map from Moghul India. Another traces the theme of the sacrifice of Isaac in manuscripts, a reminder that some forms of Islamic art, human beings may be portrayed. There is a section on different ways in which Islamic art has influenced Western artists as disparate as Giotto and Louis Comfort Tiffany. A final three articles on architectural art round out this impressive collection. Each essay is accompanied by bland and white illustrations of the art being discussed. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)