Fifty Years of Collecting Islamic Art

In 1963 the Museum's Department of Islamic Art was established as a separate entity. Since then, under the leadership of six successive department heads, the collection has grown through gifts, bequests, and purchases. The works of art in this exhibition are grouped by decade to highlight the trends and broadening focus in collecting Islamic art at the Met. From ceramics, glass and metalwork to carpets and contemporary art, this exhibition celebrates the half-century anniversary of the department and its collections.

Related article: "Displaying Islamic Art at the Metropolitan: A Retrospective Look"