Museum of Islamic Art in cairo

The Museum of Islamic Art contains one of the largest and most extensive collections of Islamic artifacts in the world. The idea of collecting and display the grand collection of artifacts began in 1880 AD. Eventually the building was established and inaugurated in 1903 AD, during the region of Khedive Abbas Helmy ll. The building’s facade was made in the Mamluk style and is adjacent to the National Library of Egypt. In 2014, an explosion targeting the opposite building (Cairo Security Directorate), impacted the façade. It was restored and reopened in 2017. The museum’s building consists of two floors that exhibit a large selection of artifacts from all over the world, covering subjects such as astronomy, medicine, and architecture. The vast collection takes the visitor on a journey through all periods of Islamic history, displaying some of the most magnificent artifacts. These include finely carved woodwork, delicately decorated ceramics, and rare manuscripts. A Mamluk key to the Ka’ba in Mecca and a textile bearing the oldest Kufic inscription are among the museum’s most notable possessions .

Some of antiquities in the museum:-

Incense Burner

Incense burner made of a copper alloy inlaid with gold and silver. Mamluk Period, 8th century AH / 14th century AD Medium: Copper, gold, silver Provenance: Egypt

Ewer made of copper

Ewer made of copper decorated in enamel and gold. Date: 13th A.H/ 19th A.D century. Mideum:coppe Provinence: Iran - Qajar.

Kohl Container

Ivory kohl"Eyeliner"container, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Period: Mamluk or ottoman. Date: 9th -10th A.H / 15th-16th A.D century. Provinene: Egypt

Iron Sufis hand-bag “Kashkoul”

Mosque lamp containing the name,titles and the symbolof Prince Shaykhu One of the princes of Sultan Hassan. The neck is decorated with Naskh inscription,containing a Qur'anic verse from Surat Al-Nur " the Light". Date: Mamluk period - 9H/15m centuryMideum: GlassProvinence:Cairo

Iron Sufis hand-bag “Kashkoul”

Iron Sufis hand-bag “Kashkoul” Iran–Safavid,11- 12th A.H/17-18th A.D Century. "The term “Kashkoul” is a utensil forSufis just like a hand bag he can use duringhis trips.It has several uses, however,it has a symbolic significancemeans the survival ship,transferring him safety to the hereafter.

Astrolabe, Compass, Celestial sphere

Astrolabe, copper alloy, inlaid with gold and silver, bearing the name Sultan Bayezid 9th AH/15th AD century-Turkey Compass of copper inlaid with silver Safavid period 12th century AH / 18 AD - Iran Celestial sphere of copper by the work of the manufacturer Ziauddin Mohammed The Ottoman era in 1070 AH - Egypt

About The Museum

Museum History

Although recognition of the Egyptian Pharaonic art was signalled in Cairo by the establishment in 1858 of the Egyptian Department of Antiquities and the Egyptian Museum, the appreciation of Islamic art lagged behind. The Khedive Ismail Pasha approved a proposal to establish a museum of Islamic art in the courtyard of the Mosque of Baibars, but this was not carried out until 1880, when Khedive Tawfiq ordered the Ministry of Endowments (ar: الأوقاف - Awqaf) to set it up. Julius Franz, an Austrian scholar of Hungarian descent, the head of the technical department at the Awqaf, proposed in 1881 that the ruined mosque of the Fatimid caliph al-Hakim, adjacent to the Bab Al-Futuh, to be a provisional seat for the museum. A gallery was accordingly furnished there in the eastern arcade, consisting initially of 111 architectural pieces taken from other monuments. Matters improved the same year when Khedive Tawfiq approved the "Committee of Arab Antiquities", whose duties included running the Arab Museum, and providing it with objects as well as preserving the monuments. As a result, the arcades of the mosque were filled to overflowing. In 1884, a two-storey structure was built in the courtyard to house the collection of 900 objects, although its staff consisted of only one curator and a door keeper. In 1887 Max Herz, also Austro-Hungarian, replaced Julius Franz, and began making many changes. He suggested the name of the museum back then as the gallery of Arab Antiquities (ar: دار الآثار العربية - Dar Al-Athar Al-Arabiya). By 1895 the collection numbered to 1,641, and the new building became too crowded, so he requested the Awqaf build a larger museum. In 1899 the foundations were laid for the present larger building in the Bab Al-Khalq area of Cairo. The new and current building was designed by Alfonso Manescalo, and was completed in 1902 in neo-Mamluk style, with its upper storey housing the National Library. The old museum in al-Hakim was demolished in the 1970s, during refurbishment of the mosque there.

Museum Design

The museum faces historic Cairo. It has two entrances: one on the north-eastern side and the other on the south-eastern side. A beautiful garden with a fountain once led to the first entrance but was later removed. The entrance on Port Said Street features a very luxurious façade, rich with decorations and recesses inspired by Islamic architecture in Egypt from various periods. The museum is a two-storey building; the lower floor contains the exhibition halls and the upper floor contains the general stores. The basement contains a store connected with the Restoration Section.

Bomb Damage

On January 24, 2014, a car bomb attack targeting the Cairo police headquarters on the other side of the street caused considerable damage to the museum and destroyed many artifacts. It's estimated that 20-30% of the artifacts will need restoration. The blast also severely damaged the building's façade, erasing intricate designs in the Islamic style. The National Library in the same building was also affected .

Video of the museum from inside:-

Booking Prices:-

ticket type price
Student egyptian 10 LE
Arabian 10 LE
Forigen 140 LE
Adult egyptian 20 LE
Arabian 20 LE
Forigen 270 LE

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