The Met Museum: The Damascus Room
The Ottoman period was extraordinarily rich in Islamic Art and one special architecture from the late
Ottoman period in Damascus, Syria (A.H. 1119/A.D. 1707) is the Damascus Room (in the picture below), and it is viewable at The Met Fifth Ave in gallery 461. In this review, I am looking at their online exhibition available at metmuseum.org.
The residential chamber (qa’a) is believed to have belonged to an elite Muslim family, who were descendants of Prophet Muhammad (Messenger in Islam). It is divided into two areas: a raised square for seating (tazar) and a smaller antechamber (‘ataba) entered through a courtyard doorway. Functional and decorative objects were placed on shelves such as practical items for serving guests and prizes possessions. The Damascus Room is decorated with forty stanzas of poetry and a verse even traces the lineage of the owner’s family to Prophet Muhammad, who was from a ruling mercantile class. The online exhibit further shows a collection of 19 objects present in the Damascus Room, which were usually displayed in open niches in these residences.
One special object (pictured right) is a rare leather pen box or “qalamdan” from about ca. 1600 which has
a stamped and gilded design on it. Its size is longer than usual, 15 inches compared to regular 6-8 inches.
Undoubtedly, this pen box was used in the Royal household, and it is possible the Sultan himself used it. There was great love for calligraphy and books which explains why a Muslim Ruler would use this “qalamdan.” The brown leather of the pen box is decorated fully and intricately with white and brown colored patterns. Another unique object (pictured below) is a Jar with Lion and Landscape Elements which was made in Iran during the first half of 18th century. It is inspired by Chinese ceramics which became popular for centuries in the Islamic world. These jars had particularly Chinese paintings on them and the most popular were blue and white. There is a flowering landscape in the background with a dandelion-headed lion in the front. The jar is made of ceramic, however the foot and mouth are brass or silvered copper.
The Damascus Room exhibit is easily available under “Exhibitions” link of the website, and you have
the option to go back through the previous years to find more exhibits providing a wide range of options. There is a description and pictures of the Damascus Room as well as a video of it being put together at The Met Museum and another video showing the neighborhood in which this house/room would have existed. I do feel the Damascus Room should have a 3D or virtual tour available to show how the objects places in it would look in real time. “Object Package” link opens to pictures of 19 objects which were part of the Damascus Room, and a brief history is provided. I feel these objects should have been shown in 3D as they were situated in the Damascus Room. Overall, the exhibition was highly informative in telling us about the Damascus Room and the like.
Picture from www.metmuseum.org.
Picture from www.metmuseum.org.
