The V&A holds over 19,000 items from the Middle East and North Africa, ranging from the early Islamic period (the 7th century) to the early 20th century. The collections include holdings of metalwork, ceramics, architectural woodwork and textiles, in particular from Iran, and also from Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, Syria and the countries of North Africa.
Middle East collections: staff & areas of expertise
The V&A holds over 19,000 items from the Middle East and North Africa, ranging from the early Islamic period (the 7th century) to the early 20th century.
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V&A working in and with the Middle East
The V&A's principal gallery for Islamic art from the Middle East reopened in July 2006 as the splendid Jameel Gallery of the Islamic Art. In July 2009, the V&A hosted the f…
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Sound Art Resident: Jason Singh
Jason Singh was Sound Art Resident at the V&A, January–June 2012.
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Europe & the Islamic Mediterranean AD 700–1600
As Islam became established, contacts developed with the Christian-ruled states of Europe. The city republics of Venice, Florence and Genoa controlled maritime trade in the…
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A Rock Crystal Ewer from Egypt
This ewer, or jug, from Egypt, appears at first to be made of glass or even ice. It was, in fact, made from a single piece of rock crystal which was carefully hollowed out,…
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A Wissa Wassef Tapestry
A Wissa Wassef tapestry. Given to the V&A in 2008, 'Ali Salim's piece offers a unique contemporary counterpoint to the Museum's important and extensive collection of Ancien…
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Explore the Picnic Tile panel
This panel of tiles is thought to have come from one of the palaces built in the city of Isfahan after it became the capital of Iran around 1600. The panel shows a lady of …
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Islamic Middle East Interactives
Learn more about some of the objects and themes in the Islamic Middle East galleries by exploring these interactives.
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A gift in your will
You may not have thought of including a gift to a museum in your will, but the V&A is a charity and legacies form an important source of funding for our work. It is not just the great collectors and the wealthy who leave legacies to the V&A. Legacies of all sizes, large and small, make a real difference to what we can do and your support can help ensure that future generations enjoy the V&A as much as you have.
MoreEvent - Light From the Middle East: New Photography
Tue 13 November 2012–Sun 07 April 2013
EXHIBITION: Light from the Middle East: New Photography presents work by artists from across the Middle East (spanning North Africa to Central Asia), living in the region and in diaspora.
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