Splendours of the Atlas: A Voyage Through Morocco’s Heritage at the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha

 

Necklace (lebba)
Morocco, Rabat, Fez or Meknes 
Alawite period, 18th-19th century CE
Gem-set enamelled gold with diamonds, rubies, sapphires
Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, JE.3.1997
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

 
 

Splendours of the Atlas

A Voyage Through Morocco’s Heritage

Until March 8, 2025

 
 

An investigation of the multifaceted heritage of Islamic Morocco, revealing the forces that have shaped its unique identity to the present day.

Splendours of the Atlas: A Voyage through Morocco’s Heritage celebrates Morocco’s unique artistic and historical identity, forming the centrepiece of the 2024 Qatar-Morocco Year of Culture. By bringing together collections from Morocco and Qatar, this exhibition offers a journey, or rihla, through this fascinating country. It inspires visitors to appreciate the beauty and complexity of Morocco’s Islamic cultural and artistic legacy.

The exhibition also features a selection of contemporary photographs and artworks by Bruno Barbey, Irving Penn, Lalla Essaydi, Mous Lamrabat and Mounir Raji that capture aspects of the Moroccan landscape and everyday life.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Exhibition Preview

 

Last juz’ (section) of a 30-volume Qur’an manuscript
Copied and illuminated by Ahmad b. ‘Ali b. Abi Ibrahim
Morocco, possibly Marrakech
Saadian period, 1063 AH (1653 CE)
Ink, opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, MS.11.1999
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Samar Kassab

Printing plaque
Probably Morocco
‘Alawite period, 18th – 19th century
Steel openwork on wooden frame
Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, MW.634.2011
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Marc Pelletreau

Bridal costume belt
Morocco, Fez
‘Alawite period, 19th century
Silk embroidered with golden threads
Oudayas Museum, Rabat, inv. 157.1.3, D1838 and 47.1335
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Curtain (khamia)
Morocco, Rabat
Alawite period, 19th century CE
Embroidered silk on cotton 
Oudayas Museum, Rabat, no inv. nb. FNM Oudayas_RefNo.08
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

‘Udrummal or lutar (lute)
Morocco
Alawite period, 20th century CE
Wood and ivory
Dar Jama‘i Museum, Meknes, inv. 72.856.01 B
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Funerary stele of Marinid Sultan Abu Ya'qub Yusuf, on a 3rd-4th century Spanish roman support
Morocco, Rabat (Chellah)
Marinid period, dated 706 AH (1307 CE)
Carved marble
Museum of History and Civilizations, Rabat, inv. 89-5-2-4
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Funerary stele of Marinid Sultan Abu Ya'qub Yusuf, on a 3rd-4th century Spanish roman support
Morocco, Rabat (Chellah)
Marinid period, dated 706 AH (1307 CE)
Carved marble
Museum of History and Civilizations, Rabat, inv. 89-5-2-4
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Funerary stele of Marinid Sultan Abu Ya'qub Yusuf, on a 3rd-4th century Spanish roman support
Morocco, Rabat (Chellah)
Marinid period, dated 706 AH (1307 CE)
Carved marble
Museum of History and Civilizations, Rabat, inv. 89-5-2-4
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Plate (makhfiyya)
Morocco, Fez
Alawite period, dated 1274 AH (1857-58 CE)
Tin-glazed earthenware
Dar Batha Museum, Fez, inv. 45.794
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Head piece (‘asaba) with gold plaques set with precious stones (fshawish)
Northern Morocco, probably Tangier
Alawite period, 18th- 19th century CE
Pearl beads, emeralds, spinels and gem-set gold medallions on fabric
Qatar Museums, General Collection, PJM.ET.0516
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Mattress cover
Morocco, Tetouan
Alawite period, 19th century CE
Embroidered silk on cotton
Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, TE.142.2003
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Bridal costume (qaftan, banshrif type)
Morocco, Fez
‘Alawite period, 19th century
Silk embroidered with golden threads
Oudayas Museum, Rabat, inv. 157.1.3, D1838 and 47.1335
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Necklace (tikhursin ugelnin) of the Ida Ou Gnadif tribe 
Morocco, Anti-Atlas 
Alawite period, late 19th - early 20th century CE
Nielloed silver with glass cabochons
Qatar Museums, General Collection, PJM.ET.4026 and PJM.ET.3952 AB
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Ceiling (izar)
Morocco, possibly Meknes or Essaouira
Alawite period, 19th century CE
Painted wood
Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, QM.2017.0368
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Bracelet (nbala or tanbalt pl. tanballin)
Morocco, Anti-Atlas (Tahala or Tiznit)
Alawite, early 20th century CE
Moulded, engraved and enameled silver 
Qatar Museums, General Collection, PJM.ET.1799
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Samar Kassab

Head piece (tawunza)
Morocco, Middle Atlas
Alawite period, 18th century
Moulded and engraved silver with coral beads on leather
Qatar Museums, General Collection, PJM.ET.4019
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Samar Kassab

Window frame with the Barakat Muhammad motif
Morocco, Meknes
Alawite period, 18th-19th century CE
Carved and painted wood
Dar Jama‘i Museum, Meknes, inv. 77-0-1069
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Necklace (sansalt)
Morocco, Western Anti-Atlas
Alawite period, early 20th century CE
Nielloed silver with coral, amazonite and amber beads
Qatar Museums, General Collection, PJM.ET.1301
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Wooden arch (shwaf)
Morocco
Alawite period, 19th century CE
Carved and painted wood
National Foundation of Museums, Rabat, no inv. nb. FNM GeneralCollections_RefNo.09
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Planispheric Astrolabe 
Dedicated to Almohad prince Abu Muhammad ʿAbd al-Haqq
Signed by Abu Bakr b. Yusuf
Morocco, Marrakesh  
Almohad period, 603 AH (1206-1207 CE)
Cast and engraved brass
Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, MW.548.2007
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Marc Pelletreau

Earring (tikhursin ugelnin) of the Ida Ou Gnadif tribe 
Morocco, Anti-Atlas 
Alawite period, late 19th - early 20th century CE
Nielloed silver with glass cabochons
Qatar Museums, General Collection, PJM.ET.4026 and PJM.ET.3952 AB
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Balgha shoes
Morocco, Fez
‘Alawite period, 19th century
Silk embroidered with golden threads
Oudayas Museum, Rabat, inv. 157.1.3, D1838 and 47.1335
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Storage jar (khabiyya) 
Morocco, Fez
Alawite period, late 19th - early 20th century CE
Tin-glazed earthenware with silver mount
Lusail Museum, Qatar, OM.66
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Detail of Curtain (khamia)
Morocco, Rabat
Alawite period, 19th century CE
Embroidered silk on cotton 
Oudayas Museum, Rabat, no inv. nb. FNM Oudayas_RefNo.08
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Chrysovalantis Lamprianidis

Fibula pectoral (tizerzai)
Morocco, Anti-Atlas, Tiznit
Alawite period, late 19th - early 20th century CE
Molded, engraved and enamelled silver with glass cabochons 
Qatar Museums, General Collection, PJM.ET.4024 
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Samar Kassab

Necklace of the Aït Morghad, Aït Hdidou or Aït ‘Atta
Morocco, High Atlas, Draa Tafilelt or Lower Ziz Vallery
Alawite period, early 20th century CE
Carved amber
Qatar Museums, General Collection, PJM.ET.1309
© The Museum of Islamic Art, Doha / Qatar Museums
Imaged by: Samar Kassab

 
 
 
 
News 15Editorial TeamArt of the Ancestors, Steven G. Alpert, Asian Art, Island Southeast Asian Art, Oceanic Art, Asiatica, Ethnographica, Ethnographic Art, Art Collection, Fine Art, Primitive Art, Indonesian Art, Tribal Art, Eyes of the Ancestors, Dr. Reimar Schefold, National Gallery of Australia