A TALK that was due to take place at a Bradford museum has been moved online after being cancelled by both Storm Ciara and the Coronavirus lockdown.

The talk about the ‘Precious and Rare: Islamic Metalwork from The Courtauld’ exhibition, was first due to take place in Cartwright Hall in February but had to be postponed to April due to Storm Ciara.

Reflecting how problematic 2020 has been so far, the talk then had to be put on hold for a second time due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Bradford Council’s Museums and Galleries Service and The Courtauld Gallery have worked together to ensure that the talk by Dr Sussan Babaie can now take place online.

Precious Islamic artwork goes on display at Cartwright Hall

Dr Babaie, Reader of the Arts of Iran and Islam at The Courtauld and was the President of the Historians of Islamic Art Association between 20017 and 2019, will deliver the talk via Zoom on Sunday June 7 at 2pm.

To register for the free talk, visit: https://courtauld-islamic-art-talk.eventbrite.co.uk

The live online talk will highlight the remarkable pieces of Islamic metalwork from The Courtauld Gallery’s collection, many dating from the 13th to the 16th centuries, including some of the finest examples of this intricate art from modern-day Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

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, most for the first time since the bequest was made over fifty years ago.

The items came to Bradford Council run gallery Cartwright Hall in January, as part of an exhibition that was due to last until this month.

The most spectacular piece in the collection is the Courtauld Metal 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 talk by Dr Babaie, who is best known for her extensive research on Persian and Islamic art and architecture of the early modern period, is free and explores the origin and cultural context of these extraordinary objects, as well as offering an opportunity to learn more about a fascinating area of the arts of Islam.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “We were disappointed that the talk had to be put off for the second time, but taking it online means that even more people will now get the opportunity to find out about these amazing objects and their origins and to learn more about this area of the arts of Islam.

“We are delighted that Sussan has been able to rearrange her talk and look forward to people taking part in this fascinating online event.”

The Courtauld Gallery’s Tour of Islamic Metalwork is organised in collaboration with the Subject Specialist Network (SSN) in Islamic Art and Material Culture at Birmingham Museums Trust and is supported by Art Fund.

For anyone unable to make the live event, it will be recorded and available to view online shortly afterwards.