The Cleveland Museum of Art has acquired a spectacular imperial tent created for Muhammad Shah, who ruled Iran from 1834–48 during the Qajar dynasty. The interior of the round tent is lavishly decorated with inlaid brilliantly colored woolen cloth embellished with silk-thread embroidery. The tent will be the centerpiece of a special focus exhibition in the museum’s Arlene M. and Arthur S. Textile Gallery beginning this July 17.
The tent retains its complete ceiling; seven of the original 14 wall panels form a semi-circle so that visitors can see and even be surrounded by the ornate interior. Each wall panel is decorated with a single large vase of exuberant blossoms set between robust birds on a rocky mound under a niche with blossoming vines. The roof panels display similar birds flanking the base of two blossoming branches. The exterior, in contrast, is typically covered with a plain cotton cloth.
At Islamic courts, tents were symbols of royal power and wealth—pitched for imperial ceremonies, travel and military campaigns, and presented as luxurious gifts. Wealthy dynasties owned thousands of tents in various sizes and shapes. The exhibition will not only be the first time the tent has been publicly displayed, it will also include portraits of the owner and royal family and images of courtly life that will give visitors a sense of the rich context in which tents like this were commissioned and used.
Muhammad Shah’s royal tent will be on view from July 17, 2015 through June 26, 2016.
Mexican and Latino Art Museum | San Francisco | In Association With The Smithsonian Institution - Th
Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd., Building D
San Francisco
ExhibitionsCleveland Museum of Art Main address:
Cleveland Museum of ArtWells Fargo Center11150 East BoulevardOH 44106Cleveland, United statesCleveland Museum of ArtWells Fargo Center11150 East BoulevardOH 44106Cleveland, United statesThe Cleveland Museum of Art has acquired a spectacular imperial tent created for Muhammad Shah, who ruled Iran from 1834–48 during the Qajar dynasty. The interior of the round tent is lavishly decorated with inlaid brilliantly colored woolen cloth embellished with silk-thread embroidery. The tent will be the centerpiece of a special focus exhibition in the museum’s Arlene M. and Arthur S. Textile Gallery beginning this July 17.
The tent retains its complete ceiling; seven of the original 14 wall panels form a semi-circle so that visitors can see and even be surrounded by the ornate interior. Each wall panel is decorated with a single large vase of exuberant blossoms set between robust birds on a rocky mound under a niche with blossoming vines. The roof panels display similar birds flanking the base of two blossoming branches. The exterior, in contrast, is typically covered with a plain cotton cloth.
At Islamic courts, tents were symbols of royal power and wealth—pitched for imperial ceremonies, travel and military campaigns, and presented as luxurious gifts. Wealthy dynasties owned thousands of tents in various sizes and shapes. The exhibition will not only be the first time the tent has been publicly displayed, it will also include portraits of the owner and royal family and images of courtly life that will give visitors a sense of the rich context in which tents like this were commissioned and used.
Muhammad Shah’s royal tent will be on view from July 17, 2015 through June 26, 2016. Book tickets
TheArtKey.com is a product of ArtKey Media Inc., a Swiss media company. Its mission is to offer individuals and companies creating or offering visual art (such as artists, art galleries, art academies, auction houses, art fairs, etc.) and art interested people (such as art lovers, art collectors, etc.) a global platform to promote and find art.
Our team has all core competences necessary to accomplish this mission: Artists, art connoisseurs, IT specialists, editors and entrepreneurs.
