Discovering the Aga Khan Museum: Masterpieces from the Collection

Ismailimail presents its fourth thematic post in celebration of the opening of the Aga Khan Museum. We share with you some of the masterpieces that are among the collection of a thousand artifacts.

The Planispheric Astrolabe shown in the image gallery below, is one of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan’s personal favorites.

Rostam Pursues Akvan the Onager-­‐Div, folio 294r from a Shah-­‐Nahmeh (Book of Kings) produced for Shah Tahmasp I attributed to Mozaffar ‘Ali Tabriz, Iran, 1530–35 AKM162

The Court of Keyomars Folio 20v from a Shah-­‐Nameh (Book of Kings) produced for Shah Tahmasp I Painting by Soltan Mohammad Tabriz, Iran, ca. 1522 Opaque watercolour, ink, gold, and silver on paper 47 x 32 cm AKM165

Qanun [Fi’l-­‐Tibb] (Canon [Of Medicine]), Volume 5 Ibn Sina (d. 1037) Iran or Iraq, 1052 Opaque watercolor and ink on paper Folio: 21.2 x 16.4 cm AKM510 (image: Ismailimail/Aga Khan Museum)

School Courtyard with Boys Reading and Writing, Folio 149v of the Akhlaq-­‐e Nasiri (Ethics of Nasir) by Tusi (d. 1274) Northern India (Historic Hindustan), 1590–95 Opaque watercolour, ink, and gold on paper 23.9 x 14.2 cm AKM288

Planispheric Astrolabe Spain (Historic al-­‐Andalus), 14th century Bronze inlaid with silver Diameter 13.5 cm AKM611

Capital Spain (Historic al-­‐Andalus), 10th century Carved marble Height 28 cm AKM663

Shell With Inscriptions India (Historic Hindustan), 18th century Incised mother-­‐of-­‐pearl Diameter 14.5 cm AKM665

Dish Iznik, Turkey, ca. 1570–80 Fritware, underglaze-­‐painted Diameter 34.3 cm, height 7.4 cm AKM687

Ablution Basin Jingdezhen, China, 1506–21 Porcelain Diameter 41.8 cm, height 7.5 cm AKM722

Ivory Horn (Oliphant) Southern Italy, 11th–12th centuries (mount: Great Britain, early 17th century) Carved ivory with silver mount Length 64 cm, height 34 cm AKM809

All images courtesy of Aga Khan Museum

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Accelerate your Awareness – Explore, Discover and Learn more about the Aga Khan Projects in Toronto

Ismaili Centres Series (Perspectives on matters of the Soul and Spirit)

Aga Khan Museum Series (Perspectives on matters of the Intellect, Knowledge and Wisdom)

Aga Khan Toronto Park (Perspectives on matters of Felicity, Humanity and Nature)

Aga Khan Trust For Culture (Perspectives on matters of Creative Collaborations and Partnerships)