Aga Khan Museum Archives - Doris' Website

Aga Khan Museum

A friend and I visited the Aga Khan Museum this weekend. A very knowledgeable and enthusiastic docent began our visit with an introduction on the design of the building by architect: Fumihiko Maki. He was given the theme of light as his inspiration. An interior courtyard brings light into the center of the building and provides a lovely outdoor space in warm weather.

Leaf from a Qur'an Manuscript North Africa, 9th-10th centuries ink and gold on blue-dyed vellum — **Leaf from a Qur’an Manuscript**
**North Africa, 9th-10th centuries**
**ink and gold on blue-dyed vellum**

Artifacts that are centuries old have colours, textures and designs that seem modern and timeless.

Oculus Syria, Late 12th-early 13th century Fritware, molded and glazed — **Oculus**
**Syria, Late 12th-early 13th century**
**Fritware, molded and glazed**

The museum’s collection of pottery, glass, metalwork, and calligraphy is a source of inspiration.

Bottle Probably Iran, 9th-10th centuries Glass, wheel-cut — **Bottle**
**Probably Iran, 9th-10th centuries**
**Glass, wheel-cut**

The mosaic tiles in the fountain can be translated directly into quilt blocks.

Fountain Syria, 16th century and later Marble and sandstone mosaic — **Fountain**
**Syria, 16th century and later**
**Marble and sandstone mosaic**

Turquoise, blue, and gold colours found in the pottery, are some of my favourites and I imagine them in a project.

Muqarnas (Squinch) Elements probably Samarquand, Uzbekistan, late 14th-early 15th centuries Fritware, carved and glazed — **Muqarnas (Squinch) Elements**
**probably Samarquand, Uzbekistan, late 14th-early 15th centuries**
**Fritware, carved and glazed**

More designs that can be directly translated into quilt blocks. Also Ideas for arranging the blocks in various configurations.

Box Spain 16th century Wood inlaid with bone, wood and mother-of-pearl — **Chest**
**Spain 16th century**
**Wood inlaid with bone, wood and mother-of-pearl**

Candlestick Anatolia, Turkey, 14th century' Copper, tin, and zinc alloy, inlaid with silver and gold — **Candlestick**
**Anatolia, Turkey, 14th century’**
**Copper, tin, and zinc alloy, inlaid with silver and gold**

The circular design in the candlestick above reminds me of the New York Beauty block. I can imagine this block on a solid background and heavily quilted with angular lines like in the background above.

Bowl Nishapur, Iran, 10th century Earthenware, slip-painted and glazed — **Bowl**
**Nishapur, Iran, 10th century**
**Earthenware, slip-painted and glazed**

Two dishes in the collection look very modern. I loved the simplicity and elegance of the designs. More information for both of these pieces and many others are available on the museum website in the Collection Highlights tab.

Bowl Nishapur, Iran, early 11th century Earthenware, slip-painted and glazed — **Bowl**
**Nishapur, Iran, early 11th century**
**Earthenware, slip-painted and glazed**

Flying Carpet, 2007 by Farhad Moshiri b. 1963, lives and works in Tehran and Paris 32 stacked macine-made carpets — *Flying Carpet,* 2007 by
**Farhad Moshiri**
**b. 1963, lives and works in Tehran and Paris**
**32 stacked macine-made carpets**

Although the Aga Khan Museum features historical cultural artifacts from Islamic civilizations, it also features contemporary artwork. The piece above: Flying Carpet by Farhad Moshiri is a stack of 32 machine-made carpets that has a fighter plane cut out of the centre. The artist, Moshiri, was inspired by a documentary on Afghan carpet weavers. They had been incorporating modern technologies into the design of the carpets – planes, drones and other military armaments.

Another special exhibit on display until March 26, 2017 is Syria: A Living History. This exhibit contains historical artifacts and contemporary artwork illustrating the diverse culture and history of Syria. Unfortunately, photography was not allowed in this exhibit, so you will have to visit the museum to see the collections in person. The grounds around the museum are also worth visiting – I will need to return in the spring when the weather is a bit warmer!

Aga Khan Museum

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