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World Ceramics Masterpieces from the V&A Museum opens at Khan As'ad Pasha

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Thursday, 27 November 2008 03:38

Syrian First Lady, Asma Asad (L), observes one of the works of art in the 'World Ceramics in Damascus, Syria. A life-size goat from Augustus the Strong's extraordinary porcelain menagerie at Dresden. - Photo; Youssef Badawi 

DAMASCUS, SYRIA - The exhibition explores the history of international ceramics from 3000 BC to the present day, highlighting the links between all the world's great ceramic traditions. It features early ceramics of China, looks at cross-currents between Asia, the Middle East and Europe and at the luxury wares made for European Medieval and Renaissance courts. The exhibition concludes with a survey of 20th-century ceramics. Among the many highlights of the exhibition are a two-metre high turquoise-glazed sceptre from dynastic Egypt; a life-size goat from Augustus the Strong's extraordinary porcelain menagerie at Dresden.

Examples of the supremely rare 'Medici' porcelain and 'Saint-Porchaire' ware; Sèvres porcelain busts of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette made shortly before their execution; and Picasso's 1954 vase painted with the 'Artist at his Easel'. The exhibition also includes a major representation of classic, imperial wares from Song and Ming dynasty China - for many the crowning achievement of the potter's art - and a remarkable group of 19th-century exhibition pieces from Europe and Asia.

The khan of As'ad Pasha al-Azem is situated along Suq al-Buzuriyyah in the old city of Damascus. It was built between 1751 and 1752 by the city governor As'ad Pasha al-Azem. It is one the most prominent khans of the old city, and covers an area of 2500 square meters.

The building follows a typical khan layout with two floors giving onto a central courtyard. The Khan is entered from Suq al-Buzuriyyah, through a monumental gateway lavishly decorated with stone carvings and roofed by a muqarnas semi-dome. The entrance leads to a square courtyard with shops on the ground floor, used for commerce and storage. The second floor, accessible by a staircase located to the right of the main entrance was used mainly for lodging, and has eighty rooms arranged along a gallery facing the courtyard.

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