Author Archives: francescal

Persian and Indian Playing Cards

Posted on November 2, 2017 by francescal

Card games are amongst the most popular games in the world. Tracing the history of playing cards however is difficult, due to their perishable nature and ephemeral quality. It is believed that playing cards originated in China, later spreading westward … Continue reading →

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Power and Protection: Islamic Art and the Supernatural

Posted on November 17, 2016 by francescal

Exhibition dates: 20 October 2016 to 15 January 2017 Sainsbury Special Exhibition Galleries | Book tickets The Ashmolean autumn exhibition, Power and Protection: Islamic Art and the Supernatural, is now open until 15 January 2017. It looks at Islam’s attitudes … Continue reading →

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The Universe in a Coffee Cup

Posted on April 11, 2016 by francescal

Walking in the Islamic Middle East Gallery at the Ashmolean Museum, visitors may encounter a set of objects of impressive finesse and intricacy (fig. 1). Comprising a lidded cup, saucer and spoon, this small gold enamelled coffee set is not only … Continue reading →

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