Celebrating the bold patterns, luxurious materials and meticulous techniques that went into crafting carpets for historic royalty, Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) have teamed up for a unique exhibition.
On show until October 6 at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, Gallery 9, Wonders of Imperial Carpets: Masterpieces from the Museum of Islamic Art delves into the rich artistic and cultural exchanges that have flourished between Islamic and Chinese civilisations over centuries.
The exhibition is the first in Hong Kong to present such a comprehensive study of Islamic imperial carpets, bringing almost 100 historic objects – including carpets, manuscripts, ceramics, metalwork and jade from between the 16th and 18th centuries – primarily drawn from the MIA’s collection, alongside loans from Beijing’s Palace Museum and the HKPM. For some of the objects, it’s their first time being shown outside of Qatar.
“The exhibition highlights how artistic traditions from Safavid, Mughal, and Ottoman periods intersected with those of China through centuries of trade, diplomacy, and shared visual language,” Mounia Chekhab Abudaya, MIA’s deputy director of curatorial affairs tells The National.
“Despite their geographic distance, Islamic and Chinese civilisations have long interacted through trade, diplomacy, and migration. The Silk Road played a crucial role in facilitating these exchanges, allowing for the flow of ideas, materials, and motifs between East and West.
“These dynasties all engaged with China, and these interactions influenced artistic traditions on both sides,” she adds. “While Islamic and Chinese carpets were shaped by distinct aesthetic traditions, there are notable points of convergence.
“Islamic carpets were often made of luxurious materials such as silk and gold thread, and featured intricate geometric, floral, and figural patterns. Chinese carpets, like those from the Xinjiang region during the Qianlong period, also used floral motifs and were designed for imperial use.”
The only key difference between the two culture’s carpets was symbolism, tied to religious art and motifs. Islamic carpets could feature prayer niches or talismanic symbols, such as the Ottoman Cintamani prayer rug shown in the exhibition, decorated with an auspicious motif of three circles, known as cintamani (“wish-fulfilling jewel”) in Sanskrit.
Associated with good luck and power, the motif was very popular at the Ottoman court. Depicted at the centre of the rug is a prayer niche; at the bottom is an abstract representation of the Prophet’s sandals.
Chinese carpets instead depicted motifs related to Taoism or imperial iconography. The Carpet with Flowers, made in the Xinjiang region during the Qianlong period (1736–1795), is a prime example, with stunning floral patterns used in the imperial palace.
Displayed alongside is a piece of Safavid silk fabric with golden brocade, which features a similar design, showing how fluid the visual language between both cultures was.
“A highlight piece of the show is the Kevorkian Hyderabad Carpet, measuring nearly 16 metres long. This grand durbar (audience chamber) carpet is one of the longest Islamic carpets held in any museum,” Chekhab Abudaya says. “Used in Mughal ceremonial courts, it will be displayed in its entirety – a rare opportunity for visitors.
“These objects not only represent extraordinary craftsmanship but also serve as tangible evidence of centuries-long cultural interaction and mutual influence.”
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
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Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
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A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
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Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
