The Fatimid saddle treasury

The Saddle Store in the Fatimid state was a store for saddles. The Fatimids kept it as evidence of their care for this craft. ¹

The saddle store was among the palace stores in the quarters that stretched between Bab al-Zahuma and al-Azhar, beside the store of books, the store of drinks and the store of tents ².

Al-Maqrizi says that al-Mustansir took five thousand saddles out of the saddle stores. Abu Sa'd Ibrahim ibn Sahl al-Tustari had stored them there, and the stock exceeded four thousand saddles; the value of a single saddle ranged between a thousand dinars and seven thousand dinars ³.

Al-Maqrizi, quoting Ibn al-Tuwayr, describes the store as a large hall with a raised bench. On each support lay three matching saddles of gold or silver, and what was kept there for the caliph's own household and the men of rank exceeded a thousand saddles ³.

The Egyptians excelled at saddles decorated with gold and silver. The price of a single saddle ranged between a thousand and seven thousand dinars. ¹

The making of bridles of pure gold or pure silver followed, along with necklaces and collars for the horses' necks. ¹