The Museum of Islamic Art

The museum shows Islamic artwork from the 8th to the 19th century ranging from Spain to India. The broad spectrum of the collection includes architectural decorations, applied arts and crafts, and jewellery.

Besides rare calligraphic works, the main attractions of the museum are fine architectural decorations. They include the Mshatta facade, which originates from an early Islamic desert palace; the Aleppo Room, a painted reception room from a home in Aleppo; an ornamental wooden cupola from the Alhambra; and splendid prayer niches from Kashan and Konya.

Homes and Palaces

The facade of the Mshatta Palace in Jordan, with its unparalleled decorations of ornaments and animals, is the greatest example of early islamic architecture. The Aleppo room, on the other hand, shows how a merchant at the end of the Silk Road practised the amicable coexistence of different religions...

Mshatta Façade

The facade of an unfinished palace near Amman is the greatest example of early Islamic architecture. It’s carved all over with scenes of paradise, done in incredible detail – vines, birds, griffins and centaurs, cattle and lions living in harmony…
▶ The Museum of Islamic Art ▶ Kashan

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Aleppo Room

In 1600, Isa ben Butrus, a Christian merchant, had his reception room painted with an abundance of scenes. Reminiscent of Ottoman book illuminations, they portray themes that are at once part of the canon of images of Christianty, Judaism and Islam.
▶ The Museum of Islamic Art ▶ Aleppo

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Spiral Branching Carpet

Groups of lions, leopards, antelope, and Chinese unicorns romp about in between blossoming tendrils with palmettes and flowers – a wonderful carpet that must have been made around 1610 for a wealthy prince in Lahore , then part of the Mogul Empire.
▶ The Museum of Islamic Art ▶ Lahore

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Holy Words: Texts and Prayers

Islam is based on the words of God as revealed in the Quran. Consequently, writing or reciting the words has always been considered a very special for of art…

Quran Calligraphy

Islam is a religion of the book, and calligraphy has always been held in high esteem. This Quran shows how decorations, spendid as they are, always highlight the words. It may come from the court of Shah Tahmasp who ruled in Tehran in the 16th century.
▶The Museum of Islamic Art ▶ Tabriz

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Mosque Lamp

“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth”, says surah 24 of the Quran, the surah called "al Nur" or The Light. God brings light to the world, and oil lamps like this are hung in mosques. Lit from within, its dazzling beauty comes to life…
▶The Museum of Islamic Art ▶ Cairo

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Facing Mecca: Mihrabs

A Mihrab is a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, that is, the direction that Muslims should face when praying. Usually Mihrabs are very ornately decorated; they can be great works of art...