Hawzah News Agency (Bradford - UK) - AN important collection of Islamic metalwork is to go on display at Bradford's Cartwright Hall as part of a new exhibition.

‘Precious and Rare: Islamic Metalwork from The Courtauld Gallery’ is a collection of ten pieces of Islamic metalwork, dating from the 13th to the 16th centuries, includes some of the finest examples of this intricate craft from modern-day Iraq, Iran, Syria, Egypt and Turkey.

The objects are on loan from The Courtauld Gallery in London whilst it is temporarily closed for a major restoration project, as part of a four-date touring exhibition. The exhibition will be on display at the Bradford Council-run art gallery from Saturday 25 until May 10.

The Courtauld Gallery’s small but renowned collection of Islamic metalwork was formed by one of the great Victorian art collectors, Thomas Gambier Parry, to complement his acquisitions of precious medieval and early Renaissance paintings and decorative arts.

Many of the best pieces in the collection have been on permanent display in The Courtauld Gallery since their bequest in 1966, and only a few pieces have ever been on loan before outside of London.

The intricate objects have now been cleaned and conserved for the first time since the bequest was made, over fifty years ago.

The most spectacular piece in the collection is the Courtauld Bag, made in Mosul, present-day northern Iraq, for a noble lady of the Persian-Mongol court, around 1300-1330.

It is recognised as one of the finest pieces of Islamic inlaid metalwork in existence, and is the only surviving object of its kind.

The free exhibition explores the origin and cultural context of these extraordinary objects, and offers an opportunity for visitors to learn more about a fascinating area of the arts of Islam.

The objects will be displayed alongside paintings, photography, calligraphy and glassware from Bradford Museums and Galleries own collections.