‘Allure of the Near East’ showcases the beauty and practicality of ancient objects
A simulated tile archway surrounding the doorway to the gallery acts as the threshold into the colorful world of “Allure of the Near East: Treasurers from the Huntington Museum of Fine Arts” at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts.
This special traveling exhibition of 45 exquisitely crafted items including glassware, ceramics, metalwork, weaponry and weaving illustrates the distinctive beauty of Near Eastern design through objects meant for daily life. These objects are simultaneously beautiful and functional.
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“Allure of the Near East: Treasurers from the Huntington Museum of Fine Arts” runs through Aug. 21. This special exhibition features objects dating from the 7th century to the late 19th century with works originating from what is modern-day Iran, Egypt, Syria and Turkey.
The Near East in this exhibition includes the lands wrapped around the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, encompassing the historic areas of Asia Minor, eastern Thrace, Palestine, Egypt, Transjordan, Mesopotamia, Iran, Transcaucasia and Arabia.
I was introduced to this exhibition when I read the exhibition catalogue in late 2021. As I flipped through the glossy pages, I was in awe of the complexity of the details with the juxtaposition of practicality of the objects.
These objects weren’t pieces that came out of the cupboard once a year to be admired before being placed back to wait another year to be used. They were meant to be part of everyday life.
After the exhibition opened June 18, I had the chance to see the objects I had only seen in a catalogue and on a computer screen. I couldn’t help but think of the collectors, Drs. Joseph and Omayma Tourma who lived in Huntington, W.Va., but were natives of Damascus, Syria. They spent three decades finding pieces for their private collection before donating 400 items to the Huntington Museum of Art between 1991 and 2004.
As I studied each piece, I wondered if they get excited with each new acquisition with the same amazement and pleasure they had for the piece before. Did some of the items remind them of their childhood in Damascus? Did they hold them in their hands, studying them closely, reveling in the artisanship? Did they rub the textiles between their fingers and think of ancestors long ago? (Of course, there is no touching any of the items at the museum.)
The Omaymas were aware that there was no public collection of material like theirs in West Virginia, motivating their gift to the Huntington Museum of Art — to increase access to and knowledge of the Near Eastern artistic heritage.
Although the entire collection spans different religious cultures, the items selected for this special exhibition are predominantly Islamic.
In the Islamic faith, worshipping images or statues in human form is prohibited. That is why these designs of geometry, rhythm, order and pattern were born.
This can be seen on a 13th-century dish from the city of Kashan in Iran. During the 12th and 13th centuries, this area was known for potters who created underglaze-painted wares. The deep, vibrant turquoise color makes the intricate design pop off the dish.
Even the base of a huqqa that was used as a water pipe to for smoking tobacco during the Qajar period in the 19th century is highly decorated. The copper piece is painted in enamels of cobalt, pinks, greens, yellows and reds.
It was meant to be used, but it looks as if it would have been put on a pedestal and not touched. Decorated with fetching beauties, it is an example of the use of figurative art in items designed for secular purposes.
And even items that were meant to be used for defense — shields, daggers, guns and other weaponry — are decorated with intricate and complicated designs, as seen on the shield and helmet from the second half of 19th-century Iran.
The shield, or dhal, was an Indian shield that was used in Iran. Shields sometimes carried inscriptions that described the owner’s strength (on this one is the word “shah”) as well as Persian poetry around the rim.
The helmet has a chain mail skirt, and at one time a plume was mounted in the holder on top. It too is inscribed with the word “shah,” as well as birds on the top and bottom of the nose guards. These items probably never saw battle but were used instead for ceremonial purposes.
I would encourage everyone to visit the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts to see this amazing exhibition. Take your time to study the objects and look closely to see these fine details, and ask yourself how you would have used these items in your everyday life.
Crystal Schelle is director of Marketing and Communications for Washington County Museum of Fine Arts at 401 Museum Drive in Hagerstown. The museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m., closed Mondays and most holidays. Go to www.wcmfa.org or call 301-739-5727. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
If you go
Allure of the Near East: Treasures of the Huntington Museum of Art, through Aug. 21. This special exhibition contains exquisite examples of glassware, ceramics, metalwork, painting, weaponry, weaving and more created from the 7th to the late 19th century CE. Focusing on Islamic art objects, many works are from what is now modern-day Iran, Egypt, Syria, and Turkey. Organized by the Huntington Museum of Art and toured by International Art & Artists. Go to www.wcmfa.org.
Summer Camp: Explore Eastern Art! July 12-15, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. This camp is inspired by the art, artifacts and designs in the exhibition Allure of the Near East: Treasures of the Huntington Museum of Art. Open to students in grades 3 through 5. Camp is led by Samir Razzak. $165. To register, go to https://wcmfa.org/explore-eastern-art/
Community Day, 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14. Celebrating “Allure of the Near East: Treasures of the Huntington Museum of Art” with kids’ activities, music and snacks. Gallery tours will begin every half hour at 11, 11:30, noon and 12:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: ‘Allure of the Near East’ opens at WCMFA
