Precious and Rare: Islamic Metalwork from The Courtauld

Precious and Rare: Islamic Metalwork from The Courtauld is a touring exhibition of ten remarkable pieces of Islamic metalwork dating from the 13th to the 16th centuries.

The objects include some of the finest examples of this intricate craft from modern-day Iraq, Iran, Syria, Egypt and Turkey, and will travel to four venues in the UK from September 2019 to May 2021.

In this short film, Dr Alexandra Gerstein, The Courtauld Gallery’s Curator of Sculpture and Decorative Arts, gives an insight in to the Courtauld Metalwork Bag. It was made in Mosul, present-day northern Iraq, for a noble lady of the Persian-Mongol court, around 1300 – 1330, and is recognised as one of the finest pieces of Islamic inlaid metalwork in existence, and is the only surviving object of its kind.

The temporary closure of The Courtauld Gallery for a major transformation project has created the opportunity for The Courtauld to share these precious pieces from its collection with museums around the country. The tour also complements The Courtauld’s National Partners Programme which provides unique opportunities for audiences across the UK to engage with The Courtauld’s collection.

Precious and Rare is in partnership with the Specialist Subject Network for Islamic Art and Material Culture and is supported by Art Fund.

Tour dates:
Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro: 27 Sept 2019 – 12 Jan 2020
Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bradford: 18 Jan – 21 Sept 2020
The History of Science Museum, Oxford: 9 Oct 2020 – 10 Jan 2021
The Holburne Museum, Bath: 21 Jan– 16 May 2021

Find out more. courtauld.ac.uk/islamic-metalwork-tour-news