Imperial Carpets and Islamic Masterpieces

Description

Wonders of Imperial Carpets: Masterpieces from the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha presents a remarkable collection of imperial carpets and Islamic art spanning the Safavid, Mughal and Ottoman empires, alongside exquisite works from ancient China. Co-organised by the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, the exhibition features around 100 treasures, including carpets, ceramics, manuscripts, metalwork and jades dating from the 10th to 19th centuries. This exhibition also reveals the inspiration Chinese art has given artists in the Islamic world, and vice versa.

The exhibition is structured into four key sections: the first highlights the centuries-long cultural exchanges between the Islamic world and China, while the following three focus on the unique artistic achievements of the Safavid (1501–1736), Mughal (1526–1857) and Ottoman empires (1299–1923). Each section reveals how imperial carpets were not only luxurious objects but also symbols of power, diplomacy and cultural identity.

Among the highlights is the Shah Sulayman hunting carpet, a magnificent 450-year-old medallion carpet crafted in Safavid Iran and gifted as a diplomatic tribute to Francesco Morosini, the prominent 17th-century leader of the Republic of Venice. Another one is the Kevorkian Hyderabad carpet, which is nearly 16 metres long and one of the largest Islamic carpets in a museum collection. This exhibition offers an unparalleled window into the artistry, intercultural dialogue and imperial grandeur of each artwork.