FURÛSIYYA - Art of the Islamic knights -
 

A very interesting exhibition to see at l'Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris.

- Furûsiyya -
Chevaliers en Pays d'Islam.
http://www.imarabe.org/temp/expo/furusiyya.html

Virtual gallery
http://www.imarabe.org/temp/expo/fur...iyya_oe01.html

A lot of extraordinary weapons : swords, sabers, daggers, knive, shields, axes, maces, clubs...helmets, armours, horse's armours...
From a private Saoudi collector.

Wikipedia :... Mamluks were to follow the dictates of furusiyya, a code of conduct that included values like courage and generosity but also doctrine of cavalry tactics, horsemanship, archery and treatment of wounds...

A special magazine not expensive:
http://boutique.connaissancedesarts....fm?ref=HS331-0

A very big book with a lot of illustration, high quality, expensive but TOP .
http://www.artbooks.com/titles/053/Item53272.htm

I have not buy it because it is not my center of interest but if you're interested in Islamic sword...it is a must.

I join some pages from a little paper they give at the museum, and pictures of some really nice pieces.

If you're in Paris until the october 21, do not hesitate !

Luc

Hi Luc,
Sounds like a very exciting exhibition and important catalog for collectors in this field! I honestly had never heard that term, although it is seems generally held of course that well dictated codes and values were maintained by the Mamluks. It seems that Furusiyya then would be compared in a sense to Bushido in the Samurai.
Thank you very much for sharing this!
Wish I could make it to Paris!! :)

Very best regards,
Jim

Better than Wallace Collection
 

This is a simply astounding collection that is even better than the Wallace collection when it come to Mameluke related items. This collector has many of the best examples of Mameluke, Ottoman and associated objects there are in the world. Whats amazing is that this same collection has even more great items never displayed yet, you have to appreciate someone assembling these arms and then displaying them. Sometimes I wish I lived in France.....


rand

The guide told us she has a friend at Sotheby's who think that the collection will be at auction in the next month...
Not all the pieces of the collection are at the exhibit, but they are all in the big book.
Some swords come from Sicily,a mix of Viking & Islamic culture.Or from Spain with great blades, from India with fantastic design.
Another one is a spoil of war take by Charles Quint...
A good opportunity to learn about the expansion of the Islamic empire from Spain to India since the 8th to the 18th.
The older pieces are from the 10th.
Luc

Just got the fine catalog, and it is, indeed, superb. A real quality volume.

A English version of the catalogue should be for sale in November. That the exhibition should be for sale later, is as far as I have heard - not true.

Hi Jens, any news on the english edition?

No, I have not heard anything further - so far, but I will let you know as soon as I do.

just an easy way to get it at a 1/3 of his price
second hand, it's true,
through "Amazon.fr" I just order one ;)

tks Luc to have relayed the info

à +

Dom

Hello All,
I just recieved the English copy today. Good pictures of some things I had not seen before. I wish I had seen the exhibit.

Ric

Furusiyya Book & Exhibit
 

Did not see the exhibit in Paris, but was a bit disappointed with the book, quite a few photographs were not well taken. For such an important collection it would have been nice to have a book you could really study the photo's from. Also, many pieces from the collection were not displayed, especially mamluk and left gaps that would be hard to explain. Never the less, am happy to have the precious mamluk references.

rand

Rand,
Do you recommend any other publications to fill in the gap?

Ric

Hi Richard,

Was disappointed in the Furusiyya book because the collection had 2-3 circa 1500 Mamluk swords they did not display or publish in the book that would have really helped.

Look for a book on Mamluk Art, study the styles as they are very unique and start to grow on you. Accumlate as many Mamluk design examples as you can with an emphasis on metalwork. Now you start looking at art from all countries that had trade with the Mamluks, considering they had routes from the mediterranian to India and beyond that is quite a bit.

The Arts of the Muslim Knight if the best book on Mamluk swords so far.

rand

the english book the art of the muslim knight recived me also today. an realy phantastic book and not expansiv. i bought it via amazon for only 55€, this is an bid pressent. best pictures from all the items and also good descriptions. it is the long searched reference book over indo persian swords, daggers and art. i think it is an must for all intrested collectors!!!