Amazing Islamic Treasures Discovered in Toronto! 😍🏛️

Aga Khan Museum ✨ Kashkul (Dervish Bowl) 🏺 Iran, late 16th century | Brass, engraved A boat-shaped vessel used by dervishes as a "begging bowl" to collect alms during the Islamic period. This exquisite example features dragon-head terminals, a popular decorative motif in Iran since the 14th century. The intricate craftsmanship reflects the spiritual and artistic richness of Sufi traditions. Isabelle de Borchgrave (1946-2024) 👗🎨 *Life-size paper costumes | Belgium, c. 2012 | Paper pulp, wire, and pigment* Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave masterfully crafted stunning garments from paper pulp, mimicking real textiles with astonishing realism. This ensemble draws inspiration from Central Asian Silk Road textiles, celebrating the region’s profound influence on textile artistry. A true fusion of creativity and cultural heritage! Astrolabe 🌟🔭 Spain, 14th century | Bronze, engraved and inlaid with silver An ancient astronomical instrument, the astrolabe was widely used in classical antiquity, medieval Europe, the Renaissance, and the Islamic Golden Age. It helped determine the positions of celestial bodies and stars. This particular astrolabe is exceptionally rare, bearing inscriptions in Latin, Hebrew, and Arabic—proof of its journey through diverse hands across history. Ewer 🚰✨ Mosul, Iraq, early 13th century | Brass inlaid with silver Adorned with zodiac motifs and silver inscriptions, this ewer is linked to the legend of the "Water of Life" (ab-i hayat), a divine elixir promising immortality in Islamic and other religious traditions. The Persian inscription on its shoulder poetically translates: "Your majesty shines like the sky, your banner bright as the sun / This humble vessel holds a wish / May your glory turn this water into the Fountain of Life / Drinking it grants eternal existence." The Secret of Papermaking 📜✂️ By the mid-8th century, papermaking had spread from China to the Near East and North Africa. However, paper was initially reserved for administrative documents. Even by the late 10th century, Qur'ans like the one displayed here were still written on parchment—a refined animal hide stretched, treated with lime, and scraped to create a smooth writing surface. Early parchment manuscripts often used horizontal layouts, while later paper versions favored vertical formats. Red dots marked pronunciation, small rosettes indicated verse endings, and golden roundels noted verse numbers. "Slaying the Dragon" 🐉⚔️ From Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh (d. 1020) | Shiraz, Iran, 1341 | Opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on paper This miniature painting captures the heroic moment when Prince Isfandiyar slays a dragon during his seven trials to rescue his sisters imprisoned by King Arjasp. Interestingly, in an earlier episode, his father, Gushtasp, also faced a dragon—a scene depicted in a 16th-century manuscript displayed on the reverse side of this exhibit! #MustVisitMuseum #Toronto #MuseumLover #CulturalGem #IslamicArt #TravelCanada #HiddenTreasures