The Collection

Drawn from the substantial holdings of the Khalili Collection, some 500 objects were included in the exhibition.

It was the first showing of objects from the Khalili Collection in the Middle East, and many of the objects displayed have never been shown before. They were specifically chosen to illustrate the development of this rich artistic heritage over a period of some 1400 years, from its beginnings in the early 7th century to the 20th.

The objects that were displayed covered a geographic span extending from China in the east to Spain in the west, and from the Central Asian steppes in the north to Africa in the south. The subjects covered included religion, science, poetry, literature, calligraphy, painting and architecture, in addition to the decorative arts.

The exhibition was divided into two main sections: the religious and the secular

Whereas the first explored art made to honour the Majesty of God and his Word, the Holy Qur’an, and to meet the requirements of the religion, the latter presented the arts made to serve the needs of the sovereign and the ruling classes.

The display followed a broadly chronological path within each section, with objects from the various regions of the Islamic world displayed side by side, clearly demonstrating the unifying characteristics of Islamic art on the one hand and its distinctive regional variations on the other.

The development of the Islamic style through the ages and the great achievements of Muslim artists – both technical and artistic – are illustrated through some of the most magnificent examples of Islamic art to survive.