| Islamic Art and Patronage Treasures from Kuwait |
More than 120 of the finest examples of Islamic arts, ranging from jewel encrusted
objects, rare ceramics, finely detailed miniatures and illustrated written texts, have been
selected for the internationally touring exhibition The Art of Islam - Islamic Art and
Patronage: Treasures from Kuwait.
The works in the exhibition are from the al-Sabah Collection, which is housed at the
Kuwait National Museum. This collection has been formed by principal members of the
Kuwait Royal Family, Sheik Nasir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah and his wife Sheikha
Hassah Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah. Begun in 1975, the collection is regarded as one of
the most important in the world,
containing as it does a comprehensive collection of rare and significant Islamic art
objects.
This Royal collection was placed in the care of the Kuwait National Museum in 1983.
During the Gulf War in 1990 the Museum buildings were ransacked and destroyed, but
most of the pieces had been taken before the destruction and therefore saved. Since
then the al-Sabah Collection has mostly either been in storage or touring the world.
"The worlds of Islam reach from the Iberian peninsula to the islands of Indonesia. The
arts of Islam reflect the cultural and artistic opportunities of such a breadth of place and
history in works as varied as exquisite calligraphies, Indian and Persian miniatures,
ceramics, metalwork and of course the hallmark carpets. The arts of Islam are not well
known in Australia and this most welcome and timely exhibition will aesthetically entrance
and profoundly inform," said Edmund Capon, Director of the Art Gallery of New South
Wales.
Created between the 8th and 18th centuries, these Islamic arts reflect the wide range
produced in countries stretching from Spain to India and throughout the Middle East.
While Islam has a wide geographic spread, common themes and principles of design
unite the art produced; and patterns from nature or geometry are found throughout the
Islamic world.
Many of the pieces were made by unknown artists who worked for courts or wealthy
individuals.
Royal patronage was considered an obligation to provide for the community's spiritual
life as well as sponsoring non-religious culture. Ruling families sponsored the
construction of mosques and other religious buildings including their decoration by
artists of the highest calibre. In the 21st century, the Royal Family of Kuwait continues
this tradition of patronage through supporting and sponsoring the Kuwait National
Museum.
objects, rare ceramics, finely detailed miniatures and illustrated written texts, have been
selected for the internationally touring exhibition The Art of Islam - Islamic Art and
Patronage: Treasures from Kuwait.
The works in the exhibition are from the al-Sabah Collection, which is housed at the
Kuwait National Museum. This collection has been formed by principal members of the
Kuwait Royal Family, Sheik Nasir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah and his wife Sheikha
Hassah Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah. Begun in 1975, the collection is regarded as one of
the most important in the world,
containing as it does a comprehensive collection of rare and significant Islamic art
objects.
This Royal collection was placed in the care of the Kuwait National Museum in 1983.
During the Gulf War in 1990 the Museum buildings were ransacked and destroyed, but
most of the pieces had been taken before the destruction and therefore saved. Since
then the al-Sabah Collection has mostly either been in storage or touring the world.
"The worlds of Islam reach from the Iberian peninsula to the islands of Indonesia. The
arts of Islam reflect the cultural and artistic opportunities of such a breadth of place and
history in works as varied as exquisite calligraphies, Indian and Persian miniatures,
ceramics, metalwork and of course the hallmark carpets. The arts of Islam are not well
known in Australia and this most welcome and timely exhibition will aesthetically entrance
and profoundly inform," said Edmund Capon, Director of the Art Gallery of New South
Wales.
Created between the 8th and 18th centuries, these Islamic arts reflect the wide range
produced in countries stretching from Spain to India and throughout the Middle East.
While Islam has a wide geographic spread, common themes and principles of design
unite the art produced; and patterns from nature or geometry are found throughout the
Islamic world.
Many of the pieces were made by unknown artists who worked for courts or wealthy
individuals.
Royal patronage was considered an obligation to provide for the community's spiritual
life as well as sponsoring non-religious culture. Ruling families sponsored the
construction of mosques and other religious buildings including their decoration by
artists of the highest calibre. In the 21st century, the Royal Family of Kuwait continues
this tradition of patronage through supporting and sponsoring the Kuwait National
Museum.
The jewelled arts have been more highly developed in the Indian Subcontinent than
anywhere
else in the world , reaching their peak in the period of the mughals .
This full - colour presentation of its fabulously varited achievements.
The pieces range from rings , necklaces and other personal adornment to astonishingly
detailed jewelled work on objects as diverse boxes, flaks. bowls and daggers .
They are presented and analysed here in thirteen thematic group ,begining with unique and
highly effective varieties of some settings , and continuing with precious - metal inlay in
hardstones ; hammered relief decoration in precious metals ;jewels with engraved gold
back ;
stones set in an elaborately engraved gold floral ground ; enamelling ; gold - embellished
steel
; three - dimensional sculptural expressions; relief - carved ornament ; carved set gems;
characteristic gemstone forms ; inscribed royal gemstones ; and concluding with a
selection of
exuberant pieces in which the jewelry artist combines his powers to create an explosion of
splendid jewelled magnificence .
Manuel Keene , a foremost authority on Islamic and Indian jewelled arts , is Curator of the
al -
Sabah Collection in kuwait , one of the world's most important collections of Islamic art ,
and of
unparalleled richness in Islamic and Indian jewelry .
His publications include the article on jewelry in the Encyclopaedia of Islam and catalogue
Islamic Jewelry in the Metropolitan Museum of Art .
anywhere
else in the world , reaching their peak in the period of the mughals .
This full - colour presentation of its fabulously varited achievements.
The pieces range from rings , necklaces and other personal adornment to astonishingly
detailed jewelled work on objects as diverse boxes, flaks. bowls and daggers .
They are presented and analysed here in thirteen thematic group ,begining with unique and
highly effective varieties of some settings , and continuing with precious - metal inlay in
hardstones ; hammered relief decoration in precious metals ;jewels with engraved gold
back ;
stones set in an elaborately engraved gold floral ground ; enamelling ; gold - embellished
steel
; three - dimensional sculptural expressions; relief - carved ornament ; carved set gems;
characteristic gemstone forms ; inscribed royal gemstones ; and concluding with a
selection of
exuberant pieces in which the jewelry artist combines his powers to create an explosion of
splendid jewelled magnificence .
Manuel Keene , a foremost authority on Islamic and Indian jewelled arts , is Curator of the
al -
Sabah Collection in kuwait , one of the world's most important collections of Islamic art ,
and of
unparalleled richness in Islamic and Indian jewelry .
His publications include the article on jewelry in the Encyclopaedia of Islam and catalogue
Islamic Jewelry in the Metropolitan Museum of Art .
UPPER ARMBAN
Fabricated from gold ;
worked in kundan techique
and
set with banded agates
and diamond Lengh 89
mm ; width 41 mm.
India , Deccan or Mughal ,
17th century AD
Fabricated from gold ;
worked in kundan techique
and
set with banded agates
and diamond Lengh 89
mm ; width 41 mm.
India , Deccan or Mughal ,
17th century AD
PENDANT OF TAVIZ
(AMULET )
Fabricated from gold ;
worked in kundan
technique
and set with rubies Heigh
19 mm ; lengh28 mm;
thickness
13 mm .
India , Deccan or Mughal
probably 1st half 17th
century AD
(AMULET )
Fabricated from gold ;
worked in kundan
technique
and set with rubies Heigh
19 mm ; lengh28 mm;
thickness
13 mm .
India , Deccan or Mughal
probably 1st half 17th
century AD
PENDANT
Plaque of grey nephrite jade ; inlaid with gold in kundan technique and
set with rubies and emeralds ; the back and loops fabricated from gold
champleve enamels ; with pendant spinel bead .
Overall height 56 mm ; height excluding gold bail and pendant
spinel 33 mm ; width 29 mm thickness 6 mm Jade plaque India ,
probably Deccan , probably 1st quarter 17th century AD; frame
and back India , probably Deccan , later 18th - 19th - century AD
Plaque of grey nephrite jade ; inlaid with gold in kundan technique and
set with rubies and emeralds ; the back and loops fabricated from gold
champleve enamels ; with pendant spinel bead .
Overall height 56 mm ; height excluding gold bail and pendant
spinel 33 mm ; width 29 mm thickness 6 mm Jade plaque India ,
probably Deccan , probably 1st quarter 17th century AD; frame
and back India , probably Deccan , later 18th - 19th - century AD
TINY BOX
Fabricated from gold ; worked in kundan technique and
set with rubies Height 23 mm ; lengh 29 mm ; width
excluding hinge and hasp 36 mm western India ,
Deccan or Mughal , probably 17th century AD
Fabricated from gold ; worked in kundan technique and
set with rubies Height 23 mm ; lengh 29 mm ; width
excluding hinge and hasp 36 mm western India ,
Deccan or Mughal , probably 17th century AD
DAGGER
Blade of jawhar steel
, overlaid with gold of
two colours ; hilt
of nephrite jade
(white , with subtle
cloudlike areas of
lower
translucency ), inlaid
with gold and set with
rubites and
emeralds in kundan
techique Lengh 395
mm ; max .
width 93 mm India ,
probably Deccan , 1st
half 17th century AD
Blade of jawhar steel
, overlaid with gold of
two colours ; hilt
of nephrite jade
(white , with subtle
cloudlike areas of
lower
translucency ), inlaid
with gold and set with
rubites and
emeralds in kundan
techique Lengh 395
mm ; max .
width 93 mm India ,
probably Deccan , 1st
half 17th century AD
FOREHEAD ORNAMENT
Fabricated from gold ;
worked in kundan
technique and set with
rubies ,
emeralds and diamonds
; strung with pearls and
with pendant ruby
bead and pearls Height
excluding hook 99 mm ;
width excluding
pendant elements 3 mm
India ,
Mughal or Deccan ,
probably 17th century AD
Fabricated from gold ;
worked in kundan
technique and set with
rubies ,
emeralds and diamonds
; strung with pearls and
with pendant ruby
bead and pearls Height
excluding hook 99 mm ;
width excluding
pendant elements 3 mm
India ,
Mughal or Deccan ,
probably 17th century AD
PENDANT
Fabricated from gold ; worked in kundan techique and set with
diamond ,
rubies and emerald; with pendant emerald bead Height excluding ,
pendant emerald 46 mm ; height including pendant emerald 64 mm ;
width 39 mm ; thickness excluding pendant emerald 8 mm ;
India , Deccan or Mughal , 1st half 17th century
Fabricated from gold ; worked in kundan techique and set with
diamond ,
rubies and emerald; with pendant emerald bead Height excluding ,
pendant emerald 46 mm ; height including pendant emerald 64 mm ;
width 39 mm ; thickness excluding pendant emerald 8 mm ;
India , Deccan or Mughal , 1st half 17th century
PENDANT
Fabricated from gold ; worked in kundan techique and set
with diamond , rubies and emerald ; with pendant pearl and
enamelled cap Height excluding pendant pearl 36 mm ;
height including pendant pearl 52 mm ; widtg 30 mm ;
thickess excluding pendant pearl 6mm
India , Deccan or Mughal , probably 1st half 17 th century
Fabricated from gold ; worked in kundan techique and set
with diamond , rubies and emerald ; with pendant pearl and
enamelled cap Height excluding pendant pearl 36 mm ;
height including pendant pearl 52 mm ; widtg 30 mm ;
thickess excluding pendant pearl 6mm
India , Deccan or Mughal , probably 1st half 17 th century
TURBAN ORNAMENT
Fabricated from gold;
with champleve and
overpainted
enamels ; worked in
kundan technique set
with emeralds and
diamonds .
Height 173 mm; width
53 mm; thickness
including plume
holder 13 mm India ,
probaby 2nd half 17th
century
Fabricated from gold;
with champleve and
overpainted
enamels ; worked in
kundan technique set
with emeralds and
diamonds .
Height 173 mm; width
53 mm; thickness
including plume
holder 13 mm India ,
probaby 2nd half 17th
century
PENDANT
Fabricated from gold, champleve enamelld ; worked in
kundan technique and set with emerald;with pendant
emerald bead and enamelled cap Height excluding pendant
emerald 30 mm ; hight including pendant emerald 43 mm;
width 25 mm ; thickness excluding pendant emerald 5 mm .
India , probably Deccan , perhaps 17th century
Fabricated from gold, champleve enamelld ; worked in
kundan technique and set with emerald;with pendant
emerald bead and enamelled cap Height excluding pendant
emerald 30 mm ; hight including pendant emerald 43 mm;
width 25 mm ; thickness excluding pendant emerald 5 mm .
India , probably Deccan , perhaps 17th century
SWORD HILT,
QUILLONS AND
LOCKET
The facings carved from
walrus ivory ; inlaid with
gold
kundan technique ; the
iron strip which runs
around
the entire edge of the hilt
covered with a layer of
gold
and engraved ; the
backing and edges of
the quillons
and locket fabricated
from gold and engraved .
Length of assembled
elements 224 mm;
width 121 mm;
max. thickness 29 mm.
India , deccan or Mughal
, last quarter 16th
century
QUILLONS AND
LOCKET
The facings carved from
walrus ivory ; inlaid with
gold
kundan technique ; the
iron strip which runs
around
the entire edge of the hilt
covered with a layer of
gold
and engraved ; the
backing and edges of
the quillons
and locket fabricated
from gold and engraved .
Length of assembled
elements 224 mm;
width 121 mm;
max. thickness 29 mm.
India , deccan or Mughal
, last quarter 16th
century
ARCHERY RING
Carved from nephrite
jade (white, uniform and
translucent,
of a high degree of purity
of colour);inlaid with gold
in kundan
technique.
Lengh front to back 40
mm;width 30mm;heoght
14 mm
India , Deccan or Mughal
, later 16th-early 17th
century .
Carved from nephrite
jade (white, uniform and
translucent,
of a high degree of purity
of colour);inlaid with gold
in kundan
technique.
Lengh front to back 40
mm;width 30mm;heoght
14 mm
India , Deccan or Mughal
, later 16th-early 17th
century .
SWORD HILT
The grip-slabs carved
from walrus inlaid with
gold,
the latter engraved ; the
edges of the iron
framework
covered with plain gold .
Lenght 110 mm; width
39 mm; max.thickness
25mm
(excluding siler rivets )
probably Deccan ,
Bijapur ,
dated AH
1044/AD1634-35
The grip-slabs carved
from walrus inlaid with
gold,
the latter engraved ; the
edges of the iron
framework
covered with plain gold .
Lenght 110 mm; width
39 mm; max.thickness
25mm
(excluding siler rivets )
probably Deccan ,
Bijapur ,
dated AH
1044/AD1634-35
PENDANT INSCRIBED IN THE NAME OF THE EMPEROR
SHAH JAHAN .
Carved from nephrite jade (light , uniform grey , translucent );
inlaid with gold in kundan technique ; fabricated gold frame
and suspension lugs .
Height 45 mm; width 38 mm; thickness 6mm .
India , Mughal , dated AH 1047/Ad 1637-38
SHAH JAHAN .
Carved from nephrite jade (light , uniform grey , translucent );
inlaid with gold in kundan technique ; fabricated gold frame
and suspension lugs .
Height 45 mm; width 38 mm; thickness 6mm .
India , Mughal , dated AH 1047/Ad 1637-38
DAGGER HILT ,
LOCKET AND CHAPE
Carved from rock crystal
; emeralds and banded
agate .
Length of hilt 130 mm;
width 70 mm; lengh of
locket 33 mm; width 42
mm; length of chape 38
mm;
width 23 mm .
India , Mughal , later
16th- 1st decade 17th
century
LOCKET AND CHAPE
Carved from rock crystal
; emeralds and banded
agate .
Length of hilt 130 mm;
width 70 mm; lengh of
locket 33 mm; width 42
mm; length of chape 38
mm;
width 23 mm .
India , Mughal , later
16th- 1st decade 17th
century
BOX
Carved from rock crystal ; inlaid with gold in kundan technique
and set with rubies and emeralds , the interior fabricated from
gold and silver .
Height 57 mm; diameter 51 mm .
India , deccan or Mughal , later 16th-earier 17th centruy
Carved from rock crystal ; inlaid with gold in kundan technique
and set with rubies and emeralds , the interior fabricated from
gold and silver .
Height 57 mm; diameter 51 mm .
India , deccan or Mughal , later 16th-earier 17th centruy
