V&A Voyage Through the Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art

Presentation

Where will our voyage take us?

We will be visiting the Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The V&A is a good place to investigate Islamic art and design. It has one of the best collections in the world.

Where are the objects we will see from?

Here is a map of the Middle East. We’ll be seeing objects from Iran, Turkey and Egypt

What buildings did the objects come from?

We’ll see objects from both palaces and religious buildings.

Palace of Chihil Sutun, Isfahan The Süleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul

What will we be looking for?

Figures

Geometric Shapes Plants and flowers Ardabil

Carpet: Detail, white silk warp and weft with knotted woolen pile Iran, 1539-40. Museum no. 272-1893

Calligraphy Chimneypiec

e:Detail from tilework, Turkey, Istanbul, 1731. Museum no. 703-1891

These are the four design elements we will be looking out for.

Minbar:Side panel of carved elements of rosewood, ebony and teak, Egypt, 1296, set in a modern framework. Museum no. 891-1884

Tile: Detail from a panel with a picnic scene, Iran, probably Isfahan, 1600-1700 Museum no. 139-1891

All images ©V&A Images

What will we be looking at?

Page from manuscript with illustration of Khusraw killing a lion, Iran, about 1632. Museum no. L.1613-1964

Geometry

The Ardabil Carpet

Ottoman Chimneypiece

Tile Panel with Picnic Scene

Minbar of Sultan

Qa’itbay

Tile Panel with Picnic Scene, Iran, 17th century

Tile Panel with Picnic Scene, Iran, probably Isfahan, 1600-1700 Museum number 139-1891 ©V&A Images

Find out more

• What is going on?

• What’s on the menu?

• What are they wearing?

• Find all the flowersTile Panel with Picnic Scene, Iran, probably Isfahan, 1600-1700 Museum number 139-1891 ©V&A Images

The Ottoman Chimney-place

What do you think this is?

What is it made of?

It has some writing on it. This refers

to a famous story. Tilework Chimney-piece, 1731. Museum no. 703-1891 ©V&A Images

Tile inscribed with the name of one of the Companions of the Cave

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What is the message of the story?

The miracle of the Companions of the Cave and their faithful dog, Qitmir, is mentioned in the Qur’an. The story tells you that the Companions were kept safe and protected, because they were good and faithful people.

Why do you think their names are on this chimneypiece?

V&A Voyage © V&A Images

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What can you see on these tiles?

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Can you create an Ottoman style tile?

Think about...

Colours

Patterns

Symmetry

Materials

The Ardabil Carpet, Iran 1539-40

The Ardabil Carpet, Iran, 1539-40. Museum no. 272-1893 ©V&A Images

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What does the writing say?

This inscription

tells us who

made the carpet

and when it was

made.

Can you see the

date?The Ardabil Carpet, Museum Number 272-1893 ©V&A Images

Where was the carpet made for?

The carpet was made to be placed inside this beautiful religious building in Iran.

It is a shrine where an important holy person is buried.

The shrine of Shaykh Safi al-Din Ardabili ©V&A Images

Can you create your own carpet design?

Think about…

•Symmetry

•Plant patterns

•Dividing up a central pattern

and using a quarter in each

corner

•Borders

•Inscriptions

The Ardabil Carpet, Museum Number 272-1893 ©V&A Images

Minbar, Cairo, Egypt 1468-1496

What do you think this might be?

What sort of building was it made for?

What is it for?

What is it made of?

Minbar, Cairo, Egypt, 1468-1496Museum no. 1050:1-2–1869 ©V&A Images

Take a closer look at the minbar

The minbar is made of wood and decorated with amazingly complicated patterns of geometric shapes. Some of the shapes have been filled with small panels of carved ivory (elephant tusk).

Detail from Minbar, Cairo, Egypt, 1468-1496Museum no. 1050:1-2–1869

©V&A Images

Rules in the Museum

Look closely but don’t touch. Some of the objects are hundreds of years old and are very fragile

Don’t run around in the gallery.

Discuss the objects in groups and ask lots of questions but don’t shout.

Get lots of ideas for your own designs, which you will make back at school