Iran: Five Millennia of Art and Culture

Description

Lying between deserts, mountain chains and seas, Iran developed a fascinating cultural landscape. 360 objects from the time of the first advanced civilisations during the 3rd millennium BC until the end of the Safavid Empire in the early 18th century illustrate the outstanding significance of Iran as the initiator and centre of intercultural exchange. Exquisite artworks from the Sarikhani Collection in London and the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin invite visitors to embark on a journey in time through the cultural heritage of Iran. The highlights include the great pre-Islamic empires of the Achaemenids and the Sassanids, the establishment of a Persian-Islamic culture, the masterly artistic achievements of the 9th to the 13th centuries and the Golden Age of the Safavids. They are brought together as in a multifaceted kaleidoscope in the copious illustrations and provide insight into the art of the courts and the urban elites.

Ute Franke is the exhibition director. She was the deputy director at the Museum fur Islamische Kunst - Staatliche Museen zu Berlin until 2019. Ina Sarikhani Sandmann is the director of The Sarikhani Collection, which is devoted to the arts of Iran. Stefan Weber is the director of the Museum fur Islamische Kunst - Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

"Created to accompany an exhibit at Berlin's Museum of Islamic Art, Iran: Five Millennia of Art and Culture is a richly illustrated catalogue detailing Iran's history through material objects and artwork. The book's scope is expansive, showcasing 360 objects from the earliest Mesopotamian city-states in the third millennium all the way through the 19th century. . . . The images are astounding; in addition to the art from the exhibition, the catalogue includes contextual visuals and maps of Iran, cementing the fact that this volume is not just a display of Iranian art but also a celebration of Iran itself. This survey of Iranian culture and history will interest those researching art, history, geography, and Islamic studies. . . . Essential."-- "Choice"