Museum of Islamic Ceramics

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hen the Ministry of Culture decided to add to its series of specialized museums one for of Islamic ceramics, it chose the palace ofPrince Ibrahim inZamalek built in 1343 H. (1924 A.D.).

Undoubtedly, this choice was inspired by the palace’s impressive Islamic architecture and decoration, as well as its location in a quiet and fashionable district in the heart of the city.

This splendid palace, a masterpiece in its own right, provides an ideal setting for the precious works of Muslim ceramists throughout Islamic history. The Museum of Islamic Ceramics, inaugurated late1998, is an integral part of the renovated and refurbished Gezira Art Centre affiliated to the National Centre for Arts, Ministry of Culture.

The first of its kind in the Middle East, it houses a rare collection of ceramics acquired from different Islamic countries that represent various techniques of decoration applied in the Islamic world fromMorocco in the west toIran in the east. The collection comprises 315 pieces, of which 116 are from Egypt representing popular styles from the different Islamic eras, Umayyad, Fatimid, Ayyubid and Mamluk, 118 pieces in Turkish style ( Iznik and Kutahia ), 25 pieces in Syrian style (Al-Raqqa), 48 pieces in Iranian style, 2 pieces in Andalusian style, 2 pieces in Iraqi style and one piece in Moroccan style. The ceramics include vessels, jars, tiles, mugs, jugs, bowls, plates, pitchers, vases, lanterns, cups, the oldest dating back to second century Hijra and the most recent dating back to twelfth century Hijra.

The pieces, carefully selected from the acquisitions of the Gezira Museum (150 pieces) Islamic Art Museum (159 pieces) and 6 pieces from the very palace that houses the Museum of Islamic Ceramics, are displayed on two floors in a total area of 420 square meters.