PERSIAN ART

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1931, Page 2

PERSIAN ART

HISTORIC AND SPLENDID TREASURES.

Not only are exhibits for the exhibition being sent from Persia and Egypt but the principal museums and private collections of almost every European country and of the United States of America are contributing. Included among the many priceless objects from Persia are tbe Billowing:— Great silk carpet from the tomb ol Abbas 11.; only two carpets ol this type have previously found their way to Europe. A sixteenth century carpet from the Mosque of Imam Ri/.a. Splendid velvets and gold and -silver .brocade tomb-covers from the Mosque at Aida bit. A group of the magnificent accessories to tin' throne, including ceremonia dishes in gold, enamel, and jewels, and a sceptre with spirals oi rubies and diamonds. A shield decorated with huge cnbochon emeralds. Kora ns from Imam Rizn and Ardabil oif the seventh and eighth centuries. A beautiful manuscript containing nearly thirty miniatures, the work ol Bihzad, the most famous of the Persian painters. A collection of broivce basin’s platters and ewers, inlaid with gold and silver in perfect condition, recovered from a ruined house at Hnmndnm; the service of some noble.

A great door frame of lustre tiles of the thirteenth century, from a mosque at Qum. A striking feature is a model over 30ft high, in colours, of the glazed faience portal of the famous Mnsjid-i-Shah (mosque) at Isfahan. Among the exhibits from France are part of the celebrated Frieze of Archers from the palace of Darius T. at Susa, and two stone reliefs Irom the palaces of Darius I. and Xerxes at Uersopolis, while from the Stoclet collection of Belgium comes a wonderful Sasnnian (fifth century; -ivory penbox.

The Rosenborg collection of Denmark has lent a remarkable -sixteenth century brocade, never before exhibited ; and the Vienna Musetum its famous green and white vase carpets. Italian exhibits include the great hunting carpet from the Poldi-Pezzoli Museum at Moan, and two sixteenth century carpets never before exhibited have been stilt from Poland. In addition to a great Sasnnian strucco relief wall of the fifth or sixth century, from the Philadelphia Museum, tn© American loans include a silk animal carpet reported to have cost £40,030, ifrom Mrs Rockfellow McCormick, and several very fine drawings from Mr Hofer. Among the latter is the famous “Man with the Camel.” Extensive exhibits from sources in Great Britain include:

A stone sculpture from Persepolis. From the Oxus treasure, a gold armlet (fifth century 8.C.) and gold models (lent by Lord Lytton) of horseman and chariot, a most beautiful Achaomenid bronze forepart of an ibex, belonging to Mr Oscar Raphael, Silver bowls ifonnd at Ur and elsewhere. A hundred and fifty-seven -superb manuscripts and miniatures 'from Mr Chester Beatty’s collection, including two with paintings by Bihzad and an early MS., with many paintings, dated 1200, -lie Girdlers’ Company are lending their management Indo-Persian carpet and Lord Sackville has sent from Knole the so-called Portuguese carpet.