Chinese and Islamic carpets in Hong Kong Palace Museum exhibition reveal interwoven past


Interactions between China and the Islamic world began more than 1,400 years ago during the Tang dynasty (618-907), facilitated by maritime trade routes that linked the Persian Gulf to Chinese ports such as Quanzhou and Guangzhou.

Evidence of these ancient cultural exchanges survives in artefacts that blend different artistic traditions.

Some of these items, including imperial carpets, ceramics, metalwork, manuscripts and jade carvings, are on show in a new exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), in the West Kowloon Cultural District.

“Wonders of Imperial Carpets” is the result of a collaboration between HKPM and the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha, Qatar. The exhibition features around 100 items from MIA alongside objects from the HKPM and the Palace Museum Beijing.
A luxurious carpet made around 1610 in Safavid Iran is seen at the Palace Museum exhibition. Photo: May Tse
A luxurious carpet made around 1610 in Safavid Iran is seen at the Palace Museum exhibition. Photo: May Tse

Exhibition highlights include luxurious carpets commissioned by Islamic rulers. These carpets were made by master craftsmen using exquisite materials sourced globally, and feature beautiful arabesque designs.

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