Masterpieces from Kuwait’s Al Sabah collection is here
Manama : Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), yesterday inaugurated the exhibition “Al-Fann: Art from the Islamic Civilization”, which features selections from ‘The Al Sabah Collection’ in Kuwait.
The exhibition, co-organised by BACA and Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyyah, is one in a series of events held this year within the calendar of the “Muharraq, Capital of Islamic Culture 2018”.
The Director-General of Dar Al Athar Al Islamiyyah, Shaikha Hussah Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah and Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) were present at the ceremony.
In her inaugural address, Princess Sabeeka praised the efforts of Dar Al-Athar Al Islamiya in Kuwait in preserving the genuine Islamic heritage, which is still the focus of experts from all over the world.
“The collections by Shaikh Nasser Al Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah and Shaikha Hessa Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah are one of the most comprehensive and distinctive collections of Islamic arts in the world,” said Princess Sabeeka.
HRH Princess Sabeeka toured the expo which features various sections dedicated to wood, glass, textiles, ceramics, metalwork, ornaments, stones, jewellery, calligraphy, development of decoration in geometric forms, plant decorations as well as the portrayal of living forms.
Shaikha Hussah expressed her gratitude to HRH Princess Sabeeka for her gracious patronage and her personal attendance at the exhibition, and also thanked Shaikha Mai for the opportunity to exhibit the valuable collections.
How it started?
In July 1975, Sheikh Nasser Sabah Ahmed al-Sabah showed his wife, Sheikha Hussah Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah, a splendid enamelled glass bottle dating from the Mumluk period (Egypt or Syria, 14th century), the first object of Islamic art he had acquired during one of his travels. It marked the start of an extraordinary adventure that mingled intelligence, love, research, curiosity and farsightedness.
In eight years of concentrated and passionate work, the couple collected about 20,000 works of art, including masterpieces, many of which are deserving of study for the way they shed new light on techniques and little-known aspects, or intriguing pieces whose provenance has yet to be unravelled.
On the occasion of the Kuwait’s National Day in February 1983, Sheikh Nasser and Sheikha Hussah offered their country the inestimable gift of the permanent loan of their collection to the National Museum of Kuwait.
The collection is now regarded by international authorities as one of the most comprehensive collections of Islamic art in the world.
It has continued to grow since its inception increasing its strengths in all categories arms and armour, calligraphy, carpets and textiles, coins, glass, hardstones, ivory, jewellery, manuscripts and miniatures, metalwork, stone and stucco, and woodwork.
The collection has long had an active programme of the publication of volumes focused on its holdings, which is ongoing. (Thamesandhudson)
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