The Museum of Islamic Art (German: Museum für Islamische Kunst) is a department of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (Berlin State Museums). It is housed primarily in the Pergamon Museum on Museum Island (Museumsinsel) in the central Mitte district of Berlin, Germany. The collection presents material culture from the Islamic world, spanning roughly the 7th to the 19th centuries, and includes objects from the Near East, North Africa, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Ottoman Empire.
History
- The Islamic art collection originated in the 19th‑century acquisitions of the Royal Prussian Art Collections (Königliche Kunstsammlungen). Early purchases and donations were made by scholars and travelers such as Karl Richard Lepsius, Friedrich H. von Ranke, and Ernst von Freyberg.
- In 1906 the Islamic department was formally established within the Egyptian Museum of Berlin.
- After World War II, the collections were divided between the Soviet‑controlled East Berlin and the Western sectors. The majority of the objects remained in East Berlin and were subsequently incorporated into the Pergamon Museum after its reconstruction.
- The department was renamed the Museum für Islamische Kunst in 1993 following the reunification of Germany and the reorganization of the Berlin State Museums.
Building and Exhibition Space
- The museum’s permanent exhibition occupies the second floor of the Pergamon Museum’s western wing. The architectural design of the Pergamon Museum (by Ernst von Ihne, completed in 1930) provides a grand neoclassical setting for the Islamic collection.
- In addition to the Pergamon space, the museum utilizes auxiliary rooms in the Altes Museum and the Neues Museum for special exhibitions and storage.
Collections
The collection is organized chronologically and geographically, featuring the following major categories:
| Category | Representative Regions / Periods | Notable Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramics | Persia, Anatolia, Spain, Mamluk Egypt | İznik tiles, Safavid mina'i ware, Hispano‑Moresque caskets |
| Textiles | Ottoman Empire, Safavid Iran, Central Asia | Carpet fragments, embroidered silk textiles, prayer rugs |
| Metalwork | Early Islamic, Fatimid, Seljuk, Ottoman | Brass ewers, silver inkwells, gilded arms and armor |
| Glass | Fatimid Egypt, Ottoman Turkey | Enamelled glass, blown glass vessels |
| Manuscripts & Calligraphy | Quranic codices, scientific treatises | 9th‑century Qur'an (Palace of Kairouan), Ottoman calligraphic panels |
| Architectural Elements | Timurid, Safavid, Ottoman | Marble panels, stucco reliefs, ornamental doors |
| Jewelry & Personal Objects | Various Islamic courts | Gold filigree, gem‑set pendants, perfume bottles |
Research and Publications
The Museum of Islamic Art supports scholarly research through its Islamic Art Department and collaborates with universities and research institutes. It publishes catalogues and monographs, including the “Islamic Art in the Berlin State Museums” series, which documents recent acquisitions and curatorial studies.
Public Programs
- Permanent exhibition tours in multiple languages (German, English, French).
- Temporary exhibitions focusing on specific themes, such as “Ottoman Luxury Objects” (2021) and “Islamic Gardens: Design and Symbolism” (2023).
- Educational workshops for schools and families, covering topics like calligraphy, tile making, and the cultural context of Islamic art.
- Lectures and symposia featuring specialists in Islamic history, archaeology, and art history.
Administration
The museum is overseen by the Director of the State Museums of Berlin, with a dedicated Head of the Museum of Islamic Art responsible for curatorial, conservation, and public‑engagement activities. Conservation staff maintain the collection in climate‑controlled facilities and conduct preventive conservation programs.
Accessibility
- The museum is fully accessible to visitors with disabilities, offering ramps, elevators, and tactile guides.
- Audio guides and printed materials are available in several languages.
Significance
The Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin is regarded as one of the most important European collections of Islamic material culture. Its breadth allows comparative study across regions and periods, contributing to a deeper understanding of the artistic, social, and technological developments within the Islamic world.
