V&A Voyage Through the Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art Presentation

Where will our voyage take us? We will be visiting the Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The V&A is a good place to investigate Islamic art and design. It has one of the best collections in the world.

Where are the objects we will see from? Here is a map of the Middle East. Well be seeing objects from Iran, Turkey and Egypt

What buildings did the objects come from? Well see objects from both palaces and religious buildings. Palace of Chihil Sutun, Isfahan The Süleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul

What will we be looking for? Figures Geometric Shapes Plants and flowers Ardabil Carpet: Detail, white silk warp and weft with knotted woolen pile Iran, Museum no Calligraphy Chimneypiece: Detail from tilework, Turkey, Istanbul, Museum no These are the four design elements we will be looking out for. Minbar: Side panel of carved elements of rosewood, ebony and teak, Egypt, 1296, set in a modern framework. Museum no Tile: Detail from a panel with a picnic scene, Iran, probably Isfahan, Museum no All images ©V&A Images

What will we be looking at? Page from manuscript with illustration of Khusraw killing a lion, Iran, about Museum no. L Geometry The Ardabil Carpet Ottoman Chimneypiece Tile Panel with Picnic Scene Minbar of Sultan Qaitbay

Tile Panel with Picnic Scene, Iran, 17 th century Tile Panel with Picnic Scene, Iran, probably Isfahan, Museum number ©V&A Images

Find out more What is going on? Whats on the menu? What are they wearing? Find all the flowers Tile Panel with Picnic Scene, Iran, probably Isfahan, Museum number ©V&A Images

The Ottoman Chimney-place What do you think this is? What is it made of? It has some writing on it. This refers to a famous story. Tilework Chimney-piece, Museum no ©V&A Images Tile inscribed with the name of one of the Companions of the Cave

10 What is the message of the story? The miracle of the Companions of the Cave and their faithful dog, Qitmir, is mentioned in the Quran. The story tells you that the Companions were kept safe and protected, because they were good and faithful people. Why do you think their names are on this chimneypiece? V&A Voyage © V&A Images

11 What can you see on these tiles?

12 Can you create an Ottoman style tile? Think about... Colours Patterns Symmetry Materials

The Ardabil Carpet, Iran The Ardabil Carpet, Iran, Museum no ©V&A Images

14 What does the writing say? This inscription tells us who made the carpet and when it was made. Can you see the date? The Ardabil Carpet, Museum Number ©V&A Images

Where was the carpet made for? The carpet was made to be placed inside this beautiful religious building in Iran. It is a shrine where an important holy person is buried. The shrine of Shaykh Safi al-Din Ardabili ©V&A Images

Can you create your own carpet design? Think about… Symmetry Plant patterns Dividing up a central pattern and using a quarter in each corner Borders Inscriptions The Ardabil Carpet, Museum Number ©V&A Images

Minbar, Cairo, Egypt What do you think this might be? What sort of building was it made for? What is it for? What is it made of? Minbar, Cairo, Egypt, Museum no. 1050:1- 2–1869 ©V&A Images

Take a closer look at the minbar The minbar is made of wood and decorated with amazingly complicated patterns of geometric shapes. Some of the shapes have been filled with small panels of carved ivory (elephant tusk). Detail from Minbar, Cairo, Egypt, Museum no. 1050:1-2–1869 ©V&A Images

Rules in the Museum Look closely but dont touch. Some of the objects are hundreds of years old and are very fragile Dont run around in the gallery. Discuss the objects in groups and ask lots of questions but dont shout. Get lots of ideas for your own designs, which you will make back at school