'Part 3'
Ceramics or
pottery is an important part of the museum and there are some lovely examples. 
The Arab/Islamic world, like China
created some wonderful pottery, and there was a great deal of exchange between China and
the Middle East. Sometimes one can see a pot or bowl, that looks as if it might have come
from China but is actually from the Middle East, and the other way around of course.
It takes a bit of time and practise
to learn about and recognise these things, but if one likes visiting museums, and it is
easy to do so, then there is bound to be something that each person can enjoy. Some people
have taken up careers in archaeology (studying past civitzations) the study of Ancient
Egypt etc; their interest being inspired by their visits to museums.
The metalware in the museum is also
interesting and one of my favourite pieces is a Fatimi Bronze Lion.
It is made of cast brass with
engraved and open-work decoration. It 's head opens up so that charcoal with incense can
be put inside and the perfumed smoke escapes through the open-work body. Personally 1 also
like the various portable pen cases, the one pictured has a small hook attached to the top
so that a scribe can hang from his belt.
The last section I am going to
mention is the very interesting one of musical instruments from the museum. Apart from
their shapes, which are often lovely, those of you who have learned or are learning an
instrument will be interested in the sounds. Did you know that the 'Oud', which is often
very finely decorated with mother of pearl and bit of coloured wood, was the instrument
from which all Guitars and Lutes originated? Its history stretches back to the long, thin
necked stringed instruments of Sumeria and ancient Egypt E1 Qanun (the zither and
the harp) was used very early on in the Islamic world, its tone being both soft and yet
brilliant.
Fiddles, of which there are great
varieties in the world, gave rise to the violin. The fiddle was carried to China and on
into Southeast Asia by the Arabs. A small fiddle from the Russian Black Sea area was most
probably the origin of the European violin. The violin went somewhat 'out of fashion' in
the Arab world and came back from Europe as you now see it in Arab orchestras. Drums are
very much a part of Middle Eastern and African music and they produce wonderful rhythms,
which 1 am sure many of you must have listened to.
I believe that pipes are one of the
few 'instruments' that came into being all over the world quite by themselves. That is
probably because most people can easily find the reeds with which to make one and then
learn to play or make up a tune on. People like shepherds often play a pipe to amuse
themselves when they are watching their flocks.
Maybe it was from such people that
pipes developed?
So what do you think is the point
and use of a museum? Any museum? Science, Geological and Natural History museums are
obviously of help to the student and to the interested adult as well. Personally 1 think
an Arts museum of any kind is very important too. It tells something about the past (and
after all the past is related to our future), it gives people ideas for design, stimulates
the imagination and makes one think. What other reasons can anyone else give? Comments
please and any suggestions would be welcome. |
