The Leonard Lopate Show: New Islamic Art Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

New Islamic Art Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Navina Haidar, curator in the department of Islamic Art, talks about the Metropolitan Museum’s new renovated Galleries for the Art of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and Later South Asia. The greatly enlarged, freshly conceived, and renovated galleries house the museum’s collection of Islamic art—one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of this material in the world.

Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Bowl, 10th century. Iran, Nishapur

Earthenware; white slip with black-slip decoration under transparent glaze
H. 7 in. (17.8 cm), Diam. 18 in. (45.7 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1965
(65.106.2)

Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Folio from the Blue Qur'an, second half of 9th–mid-10th century. Probably Tunisia, Qairawan

Gold and silver on indigo-dyed parchment
12 x 15–7/8 in. (30.4 x 40.2 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 2004
(2004.88)

Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Reception Room (Qa'a), dated A.H. 1119/A.D. 1707. Syria, Damascus

Wood (poplar) with gesso relief, gold and tin leaf, glazes and paint; wood (cypress, poplar, and mulberry), mother-of-pearl, marble and other stones; stucco with glass; plaster ceramic tiles, iron, brass
H. Antechamber 22 ft. (6.7 m); seating area 19 ft. 11 in. (5.17m), L. 26 ft. 2 in.
(7.9 m), W. 16 ft. 8 in. (5 m)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of The Hagop Kevorkian Fund, 1970
(1970.170)

Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Tughra (Official Signature) of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, ca. 1555-60. Turkey, Istanbul

Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper
20–1/2 x 25–3/8 in. (52.1 x 64.5 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1938
(38.149.1)

Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Length of Fabric, ca. 1565–80. Turkey, probably Istanbul

Silk, metal-wrapped thread; lampas (kemha)
L. 48 in. (121.9 cm) W. 26–1/2 in. (67.3 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1952
(52.20.21)

Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Throne Leg in the Shape of a Griffin, late 7th–early 8th century. Probably western Iran

Bronze; cast around a ceramic core and chased
22–3/8 x 3–3/8 in. (57.0 x 8.7 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1971
(1971.143)

Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The Lovers, dated Tuesday, 8 Shawwal A.H. 1039/ May 21, 1630 A.D. Artist Riza-yi `Abbasi (ca. 1565–1635). Iran, Isfahan

Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper
Painting: 6–7/8 x 4–3/8 in. (17.5 x 11.1 cm) Page: 7–1/8 x 4 3/4 in. (18.1 x 11.9 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Francis M. Weld Gift, 1950
(50.164)

Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Moroccan Court. Patti Cadby Birch Court

New Galleries for the Art of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and Later
South Asia, opening November 1, 2011, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art,
New York

Hamzanama (the Stories of Hamza), Reign of Akbar (1556–1605), ca. 1570 Artist (attributed to) Dasavanta, Artist (attributed to) Mithra. India

Ink, watercolor, and gold on cotton
27–7/8 x 21–5/8 in. (70.8 x 54.9 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1924
(24.48.1)

Recent The Leonard Lopate Show Slideshows

Guests:

Navina Haidar

Comments [1]

MG from Manhattan

I heard from a friend a few months back that there are 2 works of art in the collection that are graphic representations of Mohammed, but I have not yet seen the collection myself yet.

Is that correct?

If it is indeed true, was the Met not nervous when putting together the collection that someone would deface those 2 works or worse yet, attack the museum or its staff?

Dec. 15 2011 11:01 AM

Feature this Comment Moderate

Register for your own account so you can vote on comments, save your favorites, and more. Learn more.
Please stay on topic, be civil, and be brief.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. Names are displayed with all comments. We reserve the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting. By leaving a comment, you agree to New York Public Radio's Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.

WNYC Shows List

WNYC Header More List

Streams