Gifts of the Sultan: The Arts of Giving at the Islamic Courts

Gifts of the Sultan: The Arts of Giving at the Islamic Courts

First shown in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art last fall, this exhibition has its own global Life Story now, traveling from Los Angeles, California to Houston, Texas and now to Doha, Qatar for its final viewing.

Gifts of the Sultan: The Arts of Giving at the Islamic Courts focuses on a practice shared by all cultures—gift exchange—and the delight in receiving gifts and satisfaction in performing acts of generosity. Bringing together over 200 objects associated with the great Islamic courts from Spain to India, this exhibition is the first systematic investigation of the impact of gift giving, for diplomatic to personal to pious purposes, on the development of Islamic art.


Made of rare and precious materials and commissioned from the best artists and craftsmen of the day, these gifts have “Life Stories” just under their surfaces, including narratives of intricate making, thoughtful sharing, and extensive traveling.
 
View a full, printable timeline of all works in
Gifts of a Sultan: