Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia

Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia Official page of the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM)
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This illuminated nineteenth-century Indian copy of the Shahnama (Book of Kings) is preserved in a Kashmiri-style lacquer...
10/08/2026

This illuminated nineteenth-century Indian copy of the Shahnama (Book of Kings) is preserved in a Kashmiri-style lacquer binding decorated with floral designs. The binding bears the signature of the master lacquer artist ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Mughal, together with the inscription: "The work of ʿAzīz Mughal, in the year 1252 AH (1836–37 AD), by order of the Honourable Colonel Sahib."

Composed by Abu al-Qasim Firdawsi, the Shahnama has been at the summit of Persian literature since it was completed in the early 11th century. The result of more than three decades of labour, the epic comprises around 60,000 rhyming couplets. Revered as the paramount Persian national epic, it interweaves myth, legend and history narrating the reigns of Persian kings from the creation of the world to the fall of the Sasanian Empire during the Arab conquest of Persia.

The traditional dresses of Hebron are broadly classified into two main types: the thobe and the jillayeh. These garments...
06/08/2026

The traditional dresses of Hebron are broadly classified into two main types: the thobe and the jillayeh. These garments were commonly made from silk and dark indigo-dyed linen or cotton. The 'thobe abu qutbeh' features rows of red and green silk taffeta ('heremzi') stitched together to create the dress. Another widely used linen or cotton fabric, known as 'abu mitayn', combines an indigo base with magenta, green, orange, and red silk weft stripes. Embroidered motifs such as birds, roosters, the letter 'S', and stylised triangular cypress trees were popular decorative elements on Hebron's traditional dresses.

Check out the ‘Tatreez: Reclaiming Palestine through Embroidery’ exhibition from 19 June 2026 until 25 April 2027 and get yourself a copy of the exhibition catalogue, packed with colourful and vibrant Palestinian costumes at the museum shop .

Glorifying rulers and noblemen, these paintings from the Indian courts date from the first half of the 18th to the early...
03/08/2026

Glorifying rulers and noblemen, these paintings from the Indian courts date from the first half of the 18th to the early 19th century. They usually portray the rider and horse in profile, presenting their subjects as figures of authority, prestige and martial excellence, with the horse serving as a powerful symbol of rank and status. The Emperor Aurangzeb is distinguished by the radiant halo encircling his head.

Rendered in delicately layered gouache and enhanced with gold, these paintings meticulously capture every detail, from sumptuous textiles and ornaments, while emphasising the horse's powerful and elegant form.

Among the notable features of Iznik ceramics, the fish-scale motif transformed simple backgrounds into richly textured s...
30/07/2026

Among the notable features of Iznik ceramics, the fish-scale motif transformed simple backgrounds into richly textured surfaces. First introduced in the early 16th century, the pattern gained prominence in the late 16th century when alternating blue and green scales became a defining element of Ottoman tin-glazed earthenware. The motif was further enriched through the application of white highlights along the scale tips, a decorative treatment that enhanced its visual complexity. Its development has been linked to visual influences from Ming Chinese porcelain and Italian Deruta maiolica, illustrating how Ottoman artisans absorbed diverse artistic traditions while creating a distinctly Iznik aesthetic.

Influence from the Islamic world on Western artists reached its peak in the 19th century. A Mamluk basin, an exquisite ...
23/07/2026

Influence from the Islamic world on Western artists reached its peak in the 19th century. A Mamluk basin, an exquisite type of metalwork produced in Egypt and Syria during the Mamluk Sultanate (1250–1517), attracted French ceramicist Joseph-Théodore Deck (1823–1891) to reimagine the traditional form made of brass into a vibrant coloured glazed ceramic while remaining faithful to the original shape and finely executed calligraphy.

From the 14th to 15th century, these Mamluk silver-inlaid brass vessels—a monumental candlestick, a basin and a lidded c...
20/07/2026

From the 14th to 15th century, these Mamluk silver-inlaid brass vessels—a monumental candlestick, a basin and a lidded container—represent the apex of Islamic metalwork. During this period, traditional figural art gave way to massive, continuous bands of bold thuluth calligraphy. Engraved against dense backgrounds of scrolling vines and shimmering silver inlays, the inscriptions proudly broadcasted the honorific titles of sultans and high-ranking officers.

Traits of global artistic exchanges were woven into the brass, from delicate chinoiserie floral patterns influenced by the Ilkhanids, to the prestigious fleur-de-lis medallions favoured by Mamluk rulers. Each object perfectly fuses cross-cultural interaction with masterful craftsmanship.

Daily life in pre-1948 Palestine was deeply rooted in sustainable traditions that maximised the use of local resources. ...
16/07/2026

Daily life in pre-1948 Palestine was deeply rooted in sustainable traditions that maximised the use of local resources. Palestinian women traditionally spent much of their time practising embroidery and other decorative crafts, such as basket weaving. One of the most distinctive woven items is the tabaq qash, a round tray typically used to display food, present wedding gifts, or decorate the walls of a home. Another traditional craft is the quteh or al-quta, a small house-shaped basket woven from wheat straw that is used to store personal items such as cosmetics and sewing kits.

Check out the ‘Tatreez: Reclaiming Palestine through Embroidery’ exhibition from 19 June 2026 until 25 April 2027 and get yourself a copy of the exhibition catalogue, packed with colourful and vibrant Palestinian costumes at the museum shop .

Note: The black-and-white image is courtesy of the Library of Congress.

13/07/2026

Among the most visually striking achievements of the Islamic world was the use of calligraphy on ceramics. Transferring the sublime nature of the written word onto tableware is a wonder of spatial ingenuity as well as penmanship… with a brush. The calligrapher-potters of the 10th century Samanid Empire, in what is now eastern Iran and Uzbekistan, were the unmatched masters of this art. Whether the wording was large or unreadably small, these artisans created an impression that has lasted a thousand years. Sometimes they would add colour, but usually not.
Although Samanid wares never rivalled the tactile quality of Chinese porcelain, they pioneered an exceptional approach to design. The inscriptions themselves are usually more hospitable than spiritual. They vary from the simplicity of the single word “delight” to the more thought-provoking: “True generosity is not the wealth that comes from abundance, but from the penniless who nonetheless console and comfort others.”

The two twentieth-century wuqayeh headdresses, shaped like a bonnet, are embroidered with intricate motifs, including co...
09/07/2026

The two twentieth-century wuqayeh headdresses, shaped like a bonnet, are embroidered with intricate motifs, including colourful narrow stripes and star patterns were usually worn by women in Ramallah. The smadeh is another type of headdress from Ramallah. It is worn during ceremonial occasions, distinguished by its znaq (chin chain) and a visor-like extension attached to a stiff padded roll. All three headdresses are decorated with mainly Ottoman silver and gold coins symbolising the bride-price. These coins belonged exclusively to the bride and served both as adornment and as a form of personal wealth.

Check out the ‘Tatreez: Reclaiming Palestine through Embroidery’ exhibition from 19 June 2026 until 25 April 2027 and get yourself a copy of the exhibition catalogue, packed with colourful and vibrant Palestinian costumes at the museum shop .

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Jalan Lembah Perdana
Kuala Lumpur
50480

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