Islamic Galleries at the Met

 

 

 

I visited the new  Islamic Galleries at the Met for the first time. So many truly beautiful objects that it is hard to take in at one time. I was amazed by the amount of ceramics that was on display. Many types of bowls and tiles. Some were decorated simply with calligraphy, others had intricate patterns or were painted with animals or vegetation. I was surprised by how much Middle Eastern ceramics was influenced by Asian aesthetics. Potters tried to imitate porcelain wares from China & Japan by creating something called stonepaste which is combination of clay and glass. Well they weren't far off!  A lot of the pottery could be mistaken as coming from the Far East.

The patterns in some of the mosaics were so involved it is hard understand how anyone could do them.

There were also many incredible illuminated manuscipts,rugs, glassware and metal work.

This was my first time visiting but it won't be my last. These galleries should be visited again and again, there is so much to see and learn.