Wooden board with Arabic writing in black ink

This wooden writing board is carved in a rectangular shape with a slim handle and was traditionally used to practice Arabic calligraphy. One side still shows clear, carefully written text in black ink. The smooth edges, worn surface and gentle marks on the wood suggest frequent use over time. To help preserve it, Asaan’s conservation experts are studying both the wood and the ink to understand how they age and to ensure the board remains in stable condition for the future.​

History

Traditional Arabic writing boards, known as a lawh (لوح), were commonly used in Quranic schools across the Middle East, Africa and Asia as a learning tool. Students used boards like this to practice writing, memorize verses from the Quran and copy important texts.​

Writing boards played an important role in Islamic education and teaching traditions. They were reusable, environmentally sustainable and reflect learning methods that were widely used before paper became common.​

_{Choosing an artifact and creating a fictional story about it from the collection of Art of Heritage and Asaan.}