Shah ‘Abbas: The Remaking of Iran
Steel ‘Alam, Iran, 17th century (courtesy of Trustees of the British Museum)
Continuing its programme examining power and empire across the globe, the British Museum turns the spotlight on Iranian ruler Shah ‘Abbas in a new exhibition.
‘Abbas ruled Iran from 1587-1629 and is remembered as one of the country’s most influential kings. Like his English contemporary Elizabeth I, he inherited a weakened and divided kingdom that he managed to return to political stability. But unlike Elizabeth, Shah ‘Abbas’s main achievements were on the battle-field where he defeated the Ottomans, capturing Baghdad and much of Iraq and driving the Portuguese out of the Persian Gulf. His victories allowed Iran to became an important world power, with a sharply defined national identity. This new status was reflected in ‘Abbas’s new capital of Isfahan in which he built a magnificent succession of mosques, a royal palace as well as new quarters for the Safavid elite, ushering in a golden age of arts.
The British Museum’s exhibition, that runs until 14 June, is set against the background of this impressive architectural legacy, focusing on four key architectural sites – ‘Abbas’s new capital, Ardabil, the ancestral shrine, the shrine at Mashhad and Qum, the shrine city of Fatima al-Masumeh. The displays showcase the type of fine and applied arts ‘Abbas filled these buildings with. There are magnificent carpets and textiles, illustrated manuscripts, metalwork, ceramics and watercolours. There is also a selection of work by the famous calligrapher Ali Riza ‘Abbasi, a key artistic figure during the period. Many of the items have been loaned from Iran with the help of the Iran Heritage Fund and have never before been seen outside Iran. It’s all part of Director Neil McGregor’s on-going global policy, designed to break down cultural barriers between different nationalities and turn the BM into Everyman’s local museum.
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