Evening star., 1953-09-27
Art News
IsIumic Show
Opens at Freer
By Florence S. Berrmon


which inaugurated q new pol
icy early this past summer, Of
special exhibitions and open
nights for the public, has re-
Gently unveiled O group Of
about 35 objects, never before
shown, selected from the Gal
lery's acquisitions during the
past decade. The initial show
ing Of this collection of Islarnic
art conceded with the Col
loquium of Islamic Culture,
sponsored jointly by the Lii
brary of Congress and Prince
ton University, which held its
Washington sessions Septem-
ber II through 10. The Stars
news columns carried an
nouncementS and reports be-
fore and during the sessions.
The objects on view repre-
sent a chronological range of
approximately 1000 years,
9th to 17th centuries) and
include miniatures, callig-
raphy, ceramics, glass, metal
work and jewelry. They also
demonstrate, according to
Smithsonian officials, the con-
tinuing high standard Of
quality that governs the ex-
panSion of the Freer Gallery's
collections, in accordance with
the terms of Charles L.
Freer's will nearly so years
ago.
Laymen who visit the show
Gin Gallery XI, easily locatedD
will find objects of much
charm and interest, which will
be heightened if they read
the excellent critique by DR..
Richard Ettinghausen. avail
able in the gallery. He is the
Freer's associate in Near
Eastern art, and research pro-
fessor Of Islamic art at the
University of Michigan. His
extensive knowledge Of his
field is supplemented with a
gift for presenting it with
clarity and warmth.
Fine Metal Work
The largest group in the
show comprises metalwork
ranging from a gold bracelet
to floor candleholders, the
most impressive of which is
one of brass Gran. late 18th
century,, an early example of
the technique of hammering
silver and copper into the base
metal, to enrich the surface.
The Near East's strife-torn
history did not allow much of
it's gold and silver treasures to
escape looters. Among the OBJ
jectS from an occasional treas
ure trove successfully con-
cealed, are a 18th century
silver bottle, once used to hold
rose water; and a large gold
armlet 111th century Syria)
whose round centerpiece has
filigree knobs. which once held
large precious stones, lost long
ago.
/ An 18th century lusterware
bowl from Fatimid Egypt is
decorated with a sprightly
dancing girl who probably per-
formed in a tavern Ito judge
from two large vessels beside
herr. A quite different type
of pottery is a glazed ever
from 18th century Persia in
the shape of a Stylized rooster
Cillustrated). The body is a
double shell, cunningly con-
trived, so that the outer deco
rative wall is cut to resemble
glazed f1ligree.
Wine Becker
The prohibition Of wine in
the Moslem East was not al
ways faithfully followed, says
DR.. EttinghauSen, for one of
the largest beakers in exist
ence is on view, representing
18th century Syria, great
glass-producing center of an
tiquity. The beaker's honey
colored body is decorated with
little figures Of polo players.
The engaging human inter-
est of the many paintings and
drawings on view will prob
ably give them most popular
ity with the public. One Of the
earliest comes from q work on
the medicinal use of plants
(Baghdad, 1920. The Arabs
were not content to draw
plants per Sc, as in q textbook;
they depicted situations in
which the plants discussed
were used.
Ascension Scene
Persia's most famous minia-
ture painter, Bihzad (15th