February
Twelfth Annual McCoy Lecture — Knots, Art and History: Shifting Perspectives and Perceptions within the Berlin Carpet Collection
Presented by Anna Beselin Saturday, February 9, 2019, 1 pm Koret Auditorium, de Young Museum
Admission: Free. No museum admission required.
The carpet collection at the Museum für Islamische Kunst (Museum of Islamic Art), Berlin, is one of the oldest and most important such collections in Europe. For decades, the unique examples in these holdings were a major attraction for carpet lovers worldwide. But how can we ensure that interest in this art form continues among general audiences as well as the next generation of collectors? The Berlin museum faces this challenge and opportunity to communicate new understandings about individual pieces and offer new approaches to a diverse audience. Aiming to reach a wider public uninitiated to the particular appeal of important carpets, this talk will introduce you to a fascinating variety of individual histories within the collection’s highlights. PLEASE JOIN US!
Please note: This event follows the TAC Saturday Lecture given in the morning, also in the Koret Auditorium.
Anna Beselin is head of textile conservation and curator for carpets at the Museum für Islamische Kunst, Berlin. With postgraduate studies in art history and many years of conservation practice, she has accrued comprehensive knowledge of Islamic carpets.
Image: Fragment (flower carpet), 2nd half of the 17th century. Caucasus, Azerbaijan. Chain: silk; shot: silk; knots: wool, 147 cm x 64 cm. Museum für Islamische Kunst, 1889.157 © Museum für Islamische Kunst der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz. Photographer: Johannes Kramer