The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology's collection of Islamic art ranges from the eighth to the nineteenth century and reflects the brilliant diversity of the cultural traditions of Islam. Fragments from the Past: Islamic Art from the Collection of the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology features vessels, architectural fragments, furniture, and other artifacts from Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Iraq, and Iran that reveal the aesthetic attention paid by artisans to the objects of everyday life. These objects demonstrate the interplay of function and form in artisanal traditions, and the designs and patterns revealed on the exquisitely detailed fragments presented are a testament to the many stories that run through the pasts of these peoples and cultures.
This exhibition is part of the UM Collections Collaborations series, co-organized by and presented at UMMA and designed to showcase the renowned and diverse collections at the University of Michigan. The UM Collections Collaborations series is generously supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Images
Pen Box, Egypt, 14th century; Brass, gold, and silver, University of Michigan Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, Purchased from R. Sobernheim
Footed bowl, Egypt, 7th–15th century, Clay, University of Michigan Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, Gift of Winifred Comlossy
Horse Figurine, Egypt, 5th – 7th century, Clay, University of Michigan Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, Gift of Dr. A.G. Ruthven
Bowl, Syria, 1345, clay with blue and black underglaze painting, University of Michigan Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, Purchased from N. TAno, Cairo, 1933–35