WONDROUS WORLDS:
Art & Islam Through Time & Place
January 26 to May 26, 2019
PHOENIX ART MUSEUM
LEFT: Samuel Bourne, Interior of Diwan-I Khas Palace [Audience Hall] of Red Fort, Delhi (1648), India, 1863–1870. Collodion process print on paper. Newark Museum Anonymous gift. RIGHT: Unknown, Luster Hispano-Moresque Dish with Bird and Foliate Motifs, Spain, possibly Valencia, 1550–1650. Earthenware with luster glaze. Newark Museum Purchase.
The exhibition features more than 100 artworks from Asia,
Africa, Europe, and North and South America,
created from the ninth century through 2016
Organized by the Newark Museum, the exhibition presents hand-written texts, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, photographs, and paintings, from across centuries and from nearly every continent. Wondrous Worlds is structured around the Five Pillars of Islam, considered the core beliefs and practices of the world’s second largest religion.
The Five Pillars
Shahada (declaration of faith),
Salat (five daily prayers),
Zakat (almsgiving, or charity),
Sawm (fasting for Ramadan),
Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)
The exhibition showcases a range of objects from various countries and centuries, including works created in the service of Islam by Muslim artists for Muslim patrons, items created for purposes that are not explicitly religious, and objects by non-Muslim artists created for both Muslim and non-Muslim patrons.
HIGHLIGHTS
The intersection between art and Islam
Unknown, Double Portrait of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1592–1666) and Empress Mumtaz (1593–1631), India, late 19th century, late Mughal Period (1526–1857) or British Raj Period (1858–1947). Colors and gold on ivory (painting) gold, wood, brass (frame). Newark Museum Bequest of J. Ackerman Coles.
Unknown, Khavar Shah Celebrates the Reunion of Mihr and Mah Folio from a dispersed Romance of Mihr, India, 1719, Muhammad Shah Reign (1719–48), late Mughal Period (1526–1857). Paper, gold, colors. Newark Museum Gift of Herman A. E. Jaehne and Paul C. Jaehne.
Unknown, Portrait of a Beauty, India, late 19th century, late Mughal Period (1526–1857) or British Raj Period (1858–1947). Colors and gold on ivory (painting), ebony, copper, glass (frame). Newark Museum Gift of Dr. J. Ackerman Coles.
Unknown, Layla with Female Attendants in a Walled Garden Folio from a dispersed Layla and Majnun, India, Deccan, Mughal Period (1526–1857). Colors and gold on paper. Newark Museum Gift of Sally Sample Aall.
Unknown, Portrait of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb (1618–1707), India, late 17th or early 18th century, Mughal Period (1526–1857). Paper, gold, colors. Newark Museum Gift of Herman A. E. Jaehne and Paul C. Jaehne.
Unknown, Reading the Miracle of Splitting of the Moon (Shaq-ul-Qamar), Deccan, India, ca. 1780, Mughal Period (1526–1857). Paper, gold, colors. Newark Museum Gift of Herman A. E. Jaehne and Paul C. Jaehne.
Unknown, Inscribed Islamic Prayer Board (Lawh) with Cypress, Fish, Jewels and Lotus Motifs, Algeria, early 20th century. Wood, paint. Newark Museum Gift of John Cotton Dana.
Unknown, Portfolio with Eight-Pointed Star and Geometric Motifs, Algeria, before 1928. Leather, gold. Newark Museum Purchase.
Katherine Anne Paul, PhD
Curator of the arts of Asia at Newark Museum led the team
that organized the exhibition.
“By presenting Islamic artworks that span centuries and continents within the context of the Five Pillars, the exhibition provides Museum guests with the opportunity to experience the living legacy of Islamic art through an in-depth examination of the global reach of Islam and its rich artistic tradition.”
Unknown, Inscribed in Thuluth Script, Hand of Fatima Charm with Six-Pointed Star, Algeria/Morocco, before 1928. Brass. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Qu’ran Container with Geometric Designs, Egypt, before 1929. Brass. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Inscribed Eating Knife and Sheath with Calligraphy and Foliate Motifs. Turkey, Ottoman Period (1299–1922). Steel, gold. Newark Museum Bequest of Ambrose E. Vanderpoel.
Unknown, Kris Nagasasra (Nine-Curve) Dagger with Foliate Hilt Boat-Shaped Scabbard Mouth, Repoussé Tree of Life Foliate Scabbard, Java, Indonesia, 19th century. Steel, brass, meteoric iron, wood. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Pen Case and Inkwell with Foliate Motifs, Malaysia or Indonesia, 19th century. Incised brass. Newark Museum Gift of Alice Roff Estey.
Unknown, Inscribed Astrolabe Adorned with Symbols of the Zodiac, Angels Elevating a Crown and Horse Head, Egypt, 1863. Brass. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Ewer in the Shape of a Mythic Goose and Makara with Floral Motifs, India, 17th –18th century, Mughal Period (1526–1857). Brass. Newark Museum Gift of Dr. David R. Nalin.
Unknown, Inscribed Coffeepot and Cups, Algeria, before 1928. Brass, copper, silver. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Rosewater Sprinkler with Foliate Motifs, Malaysia, 19th century. Silver. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Comb with Eight-Pointed Star, Floral and Knot Designs, Morocco, before 1930. Silver. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, A Single Earring with Floral Motifs (double sided image), Iran, Qajar Period (1789–1925). Iron, gold. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Jhumar Hair Ornament with Hand of Fatima, Crescent, Eight-Pointed Stars, Peacock and Floral Motifs, India, Jaipur 18th century, Mughal Period (1526–1857). Basra pearls, emeralds, spinels, diamonds, enamel, gold. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Molded Kalian Hookah Base with Arabesque and Floral Motifs, Iran, early 17th century, Safavid Period (1501–1722). White clay body with green glaze, metal. Newark Museum Gift of Herman A. E. Jaehne and Paul C. Jaehne.
Unknown, Bookstand (Rehal) with Geometric Motif, Turkey, before 1920, Ottoman Period (1299–1922). Wood, bone, mother-of-pearl, metal wire. Newark Museum Gift of Dr. J. Ackerman Coles.
Janet Baker
Curator of Asian Art, Phoenix Art Museum
“Islam connected cultures across the Middle East, the Mediterranean world and as far as China; through travel, trade and faith.” “Its impact on the intellectual and scientific worlds was vast and long-lasting.”
Unknown, Man’s Sawari Coat with Boteh and Woven Floral Motifs, India, Kashmir, late 18th or early 19th century, Mughal Period (1526–1857). Tapestry-woven silk, metal-wrapped threads. Newark Museum Gift of Mrs. August Gilbert Buse.
Unknown, Horse Cape with Embroidered and Ikat Dyed Floral Motifs, Uzbekistan or Tajikistan, late 19th or early 20th century. Silk, velvet, metallic thread, metal sequins. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Knotted Prayer Rug with Mihrab, Hanging Oil Lamp, Floral and Geometric Motifs, Egypt, 1600–25, Ottoman Period (1299–1922). Wool, silk. Newark Museum Gift of Mary Vanderpool Pennington.
Unknown, Pendak Skirt with Woman and Sheep and Floral Motifs, Java, Indonesia, before 1923, Netherlands East Indies Period (1800–1942). Cotton, resist-wax print (batik). Newark Museum Gift of Dr. H. H. Rusby.
Burkina Faso, Portrait of Alhaji Shehu Muhammad Kangiwa with Olive Leaf Wreaths, late 20th century. Factory printed cotton. Newark Museum Gift of Jo M. Sullivan.
Burkina Faso, Textile of Crescent Moon and Stars, late 20th century. Factory printed cotton. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Textile of Agadez Mosque and Tuareg Figure, Niger, 1982. Factory printed cotton. Newark Museum Gift of Amy Albertson Greene.
Unknown, Khayamiya Panel with Calligraphic, Geometric and Architectural Motifs, Cairo, Egypt, before 1929. Cotton appliqué. Newark Museum Purchase.
Statement by Amada Cruz
The Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum.
“We are delighted to host Wondrous Worlds: Art & Islam Through Time & Place”. “This exhibition offers a unique and comprehensive view of Islamic art, and we are excited to share these extraordinary works with our community.”
Unknown, Molded Luster Tile with Sentence Fragment in Raised Calligraphy, Floral and Geometric Motifs, Kashan, Iran, first half of the 13th century. Molded fritware polychrome painted over white slip under transparent glaze. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Molded Eight-Pointed Star Tile with Wild Ass (Onager) Leaping a Fishpond Surrounded by Calligraphic and Floral Motifs, Iran, late 13th century – early 14th century. Molded fritware polychrome painted over white slip under transparent glaze. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Wall Border Tile with Green Saz Leaves, Turquoise Palmette Section with Red-and-White Carnation and White-and Red Daffodil, Iznik, Turkey, late 16th or early 17th century, Ottoman Period (1299–1922). Fritware polychrome painted over white slip under transparent glaze. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Wall Tile with Turquoise Saz Leaf, Blue Hyacinth and Sections of Red and Blue Palmettes, Iznik, Turkey, late 16th or early 17th century, Ottoman Period (1299–1922). Fritware polychrome painted over white slip under transparent glaze. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Molded Luster Tile with Raised Braided Border and Cowherd Witnessing a Lion Attack a Calf against a Floral Background, Iran, first half of the 13th century. Molded fritware polychrome painted over white slip under transparent glaze. Newark Museum Gift of Mary Vanderpool Pennington.
Unknown, Luster Lobed, Molded Rim Bottle with Figural, Geometric, Calligraphic and Floral Motifs, Kashan, Iran, 13th century, late Abbasid Period (750–1258). White paste clay body with white, blue, and luster glazes. Newark Museum Bequest of Adelaide Kauffmann.
LEFT: Unknown, Narrow-Neck Jug with Calligraphic and Geometric Motifs, Rayy or Kashan, Iran, 12th century. White paste body with black slip and turquoise glaze. Newark Museum Bequest of Adelaide Kauffmann.
RIGHT: Unknown, Footed Bowl with Incised Geometric Motif, Rayy, Iran, 12th – 13th century. White paste body with black slip and turquoise glaze. Newark Museum Gift of Susan Dwight Bliss.
Unknown, Jobbana Covered Jar with Interlocking Ring Motifs, Morocco, late 18th – early 20th century. Earthenware with white, blue, yellow and turquoise glazes. Newark Museum Purchase, The Member’s Fund.
Unknown, Ceiling Ornament with Foliate Motifs, Kutahya, Turkey, 17th century Ottoman Period (1299–1922). Fritware polychrome painted over white slip under transparent glaze. Newark Museum Gift of Mary Vanderpool Pennington.
Unknown, Bowl with Eight-Pointed Star, Floral and Geometric Motifs, Morocco, late 18th century – early 19th century. Earthenware with aqua, blue, and yellow glazes. Newark Museum Purchase, Eva Walker Kahn Bequest Fund.
Unknown, Three Varieties of Twelve Birds, Four Long-horned Ibex, and Four Mythical Quadrupeds with Floral and Calligraphic Motifs on a Bowl, Nishapur, Iran, 9th–10th century. Buff clay body with dark brown slip and yellow, green and clear glazes. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Bowl with Geometric and Foliate Motifs and Three-Color Glazes, Eastern Iran, 9th–10th century, Abbasid Period (750–1258). Incised design in red clay body with white slip, and green, yellow, purple-brown and clear glazes. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Red Carnations, Blue Tulips, Red Hyacinth and Blue Saz Leaf on a Dish with an “S”- Pattern and Double-Scrolled Rim, Turkey, 18th century, Ottoman Period (1299–1922). Fritware polychrome painted over white slip under transparent glaze. Newark Museum Purchase.
Unknown, Luster Hispano-Moresque Dish with Bird and Foliate Motifs, Spain, possibly Valencia, 1550–1650. Earthenware with luster glaze. Newark Museum Purchase.
Sponsors
Wondrous Worlds: Art & Islam Through Time & Place is made possible through the generosity of the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Exhibition Endowment Fund, and supported by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation and APS.
About Phoenix Art Museum
Phoenix Art Museum has provided access to visual arts and educational programs in Arizona for nearly 60 years and is the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions are shown alongside the Museum’s permanent collection of more than 19,000 works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. The Museum also presents festivals, a comprehensive film program, live performances, and educational programs designed to enlighten, entertain, and stimulate visitors of all ages. Visitors also enjoy vibrant photography exhibitions through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org or call 602.257.1880.
PHOENIX ART MUSEUM
1625 N. Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85004-1685 (602) 257-1880
http://www.phxart.org/
