As fireworks light up the sky this #GuyFawkesNight, we’re thinking about the invention behind both spectacle and revolution: gunpowder. This 17th-c. Ottoman flintlock pistol, crafted with gold, silver, and intricate calligraphy, is a rare masterpiece where art meets innovation. #KhaliliCollections

A simple List of Supplies from ancient Bactria tells a story of empire in transition. Written in Official Aramaic on leather, it records flour, wine, and vinegar for workers, everyday needs that kept the Achaemenid world running in 329 BC. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/2yjnv4x7 #WednesdayWisdom

As we adjust to shorter days, we’re reminded of this Timepiece from our Enamels of the World Collection. Unveiled at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1889, this clock was among celebrated works earning the Vever brothers a Grand Prix for jewellery design. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/bdf6286f

Sir David Khalili’s The Art of Peace is available on Amazon. Discover how the power of art can foster understanding, peace, and unity across cultures. Few are better placed to share such a vision. Learn more: http://sirdavidkhalili.com #TheArtOfPeace

It’s #SpaceWeek 🌌 & we’re sharing an astrolabe-quadrant from our Islamic Arts Collection, made in Ottoman Turkey in 1840–41. Crafted from walnut with ink inscriptions, brass, and a housed plumb-line weight, it guided astronomical calculations with remarkable precision. #KhaliliCollections

📢 New release: Learning, Piety and Poetry: Manuscripts from the Islamic World (Vol VII, 2025). Featuring rare Arabic, Persian & Turkish works incl. Ibn al-‘Arabi’s autograph & al-Mutanabbi’s diwan. 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/4ua5r5p4

Here you can purchase all available volumes published exclusively by the Collections: https://khalilipublications.com For a fuller list of publications including forthcoming volumes and books published by others see our Collections:  https://khalilicollections.org/publications

For this week’s #ManuscriptMonday we’re highlighting Al-Shajarah al-Nabawiyyah by Yusuf ibn Hasan ibn ʿAbd al-Hadi, a detailed biography of the Prophet Muhammad, his family, companions, and the first four caliphs. This manuscript was copied in North Africa during the 17th century. #OttomanArt

This week marks the beginning of autumn and soon we’ll need to start raking up all the fallen leaves. We’re sharing this remarkable 19thC calligraphic composition written on the delicate skeleton of a horse chestnut leaf from our Islamic Arts Collection. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/bdf6z4tm

An 18th-c silk curtain from the Prophet’s Tomb, woven in Ottoman Turkey, carries prayers, blessings, and the words: “Prayers and Peace be upon you, O messenger of God.” From our Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage Collection.  Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/chp7pafd #InternationalDayOfPeace

As #LondonFashionWeek unfolds, we spotlight a boy’s kimono ensemble from 1930s–40s Japan. Made of silk with yuzen dyeing & metallic embroidery, it features samurai helmets, swords & arrows wishing the wearer strength, valour & honour.

The Discovery Tour App: Medieval Baghdad lets you explore 9th-century Baghdad during the Abbasid Caliphate, featuring artefacts from The Khalili Collections.  Learn more and download the app here: https://tinyurl.com/yd53tz5y

On #InternationalDayofCharity we share this Pair of Phoenixes from our Enamels of the World Collection, China (1736–1795). A symbol of the empress, counterpart to the emperor’s dragon, the phoenix signified prosperity, beauty and charity.

Sudanese sword, scabbard, and baldric (1312 AH / 1898–9 AD), made for ‘Ali Dinar, last independent sultan of Darfur. More than a weapon, it symbolised authority and resilience as he restored the sultanate after 1898, ruling until its annexation in 1916. #HistoricalWeapons

#Judaism, #Christianity, and #Islam are major monotheistic religions affirming belief in one God. The Khalili Foundation’s Interfaith Explorers resource highlights this shared tradition through the Shema, Nicene Creed, and tawhid. Learn more at Interfaith Explorers: https://tinyurl.com/46m6xaex

Ottoman rug, late 16th–early 17th century, from Istanbul or Cairo. Wool and cotton pile on silk and wool foundation with a mihrab niche, columns and mosque lamp. A striking reminder of Ottoman artistry and cultural exchange. #wednesdaywisdom

Meiji No Takara – Treasures of Imperial Japan Enamel (Volume III) celebrates Japanese cloisonné art with 107 masterworks and expert essays. All proceeds support The Khalili Foundation. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/yc4k3mxf All proceeds support the charitable endeavours of The Khalili Foundation

Cobalt and Lustre: The First Centuries of Islamic Pottery presents 406 masterpieces from the 7th–13th centuries, including rare works from Iran and beyond. Beautifully illustrated with essays and drawings. All proceeds support the Khalili Foundation: https://tinyurl.com/yaumsncn

Today for #WorldHumanitarianDay we share Qutb al-Din Shirazi’s 14thC commentary on Ibn Sina’s Canon of Medicine, a landmark text from NW Iran that shaped medical study across the Islamic world and beyond for centuries. #KhaliliCollections

On #WorldImaginationDay we’re sharing this Domed and Footed Oval Casket from our Spanish Damascene Metalwork Collection. Produced in 20thC Toledo, the casket presents 3 panels depicting scenes from both books of Don Quijote, a character whose imagination shaped his understanding of the world.

Today on #InternationalYouthDay we share from our Collection a manuscript of A Divan of Hafiz, completed in Khurasan. The double frontispiece opens with 2 paintings, one attributed to ‘Abdallah al-mudhahhib al-Shirazi depicting a richly dressed youth playing the tar. https://tinyurl.com/3wapas6d

Happy #InternationalCatDay 🐱 This bronze incense burner from Khurasan shows the medieval Islamic love for lynxes — prized as hunters and loyal pets. With perked ears, almond eyes and a toothy grin, it captures the feline’s charm in striking detail.

Explore Islamic art with Top Trumps: Islamic Art – 30 stunning cards from the Khalili Collections. Fun, educational, and perfect for all ages. Discover hidden stories and challenge your friends! 🎨🎴 Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/2s3etrfj #TopTrumps #IslamicArt #KhaliliCollections

For International Tiger Day, we’re highlighting a mid-16thC binding from Herat that is attached to a copy of the Divan of Nava’i. Painted and varnished papier-mâché boards show landscapes populated by Sino-Islamic animals, among them tigers attacking deer. #InternationalTigerDay

Celebrating Marine Day in Japan 🇯🇵🌊 Today, we honour the ocean’s bounty with a stunning work from our Japanese Kimono Collection. This Furisode (Kimono for a Young Woman), dating from 1912–1926, captures the rhythm of the sea with its swirling water motif. #MarineDay

Today marks the first of two Gion Matsuri parades in Kyoto—Yamaboko Junko! Towering yama & hoko floats, adorned with rich Nishijin textiles, fill the streets. We’re highlighting a Meiji-era Textile Hanging with Ho-o Bird echoing these festive Kyoto traditions. #GionMatsuri #KyotoCulture

Caught in a 19th-c smile! ✨ This Qajar hookah cup shows European women in 1850s style, painted in rich enamel and inspired by imported prints. A perfect blend of Iran & Europe! 🌍 💫 #QajarArt

It’s heating up, so stay hydrated! 💧 This 16th-century ‘Pilgrim Flask’ from Mughal India or the Deccan, made of cast brass with elephant-trunk-like handles, is the perfect inspiration for your summer flask or water bottle style.  See more flasks here: https://tinyurl.com/yr763c4y #heatwave

As the Islamic New Year begins, we reflect on Medina’s sacred legacy through this 1803 Sitarah from the Prophet’s Mosque. Embroidered with Qur'anic verses and symbols of light, it honours a journey that redefined faith, community, and devotion. #HijraNewYear

Discover Top Trumps: #Islamic #Art – a fun, educational game celebrating the launch of #InterfaithExplorers. Explore 30 stunning objects and their hidden stories. Perfect for all ages. All proceeds go to charity. Buy now: https://tinyurl.com/3t8kxym8 #KFMission

Explore the legacy of Islamic carpets in this illustrated lecture by Walter Denny, revealing their global journey and cultural impact from the 14th century to today. Presented as the Hadassah & Daniel Khalili Memorial Lecture on Islamic Art and Culture. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/yc6y2m7n

To mark #NationalInsectWeek, we’re highlighting Shibata Zeshin’s 1881 two-fold screen—an exquisite example of urushi-e (lacquer painting) on gold-dusted paper. Insects like dragonflies, wasps & butterflies are caught in a delicate web, blending art with natural observation. #MeijiArt #InsectArt

Eid Mubarak from the Khalili Collections 🕋✨ This rare 1880 photo by Muhammad Sadiq Bey captures Eid al-Adha at Mina, a powerful glimpse of Hajj by the first person to photograph Mecca and Medina. #EidAlAdha #Hajj #IslamicArt #KhaliliCollections

As the half-term break comes to a close, we’re easing gently into the rhythm of routine with a work from our Japanese Arts of the Meiji Period collection depicting a scene of a woman reading a book illuminated by a light on a black background. #backtoschool

From 9th–10th century Egypt or Mesopotamia, this Islamic cosmetic set offers a glimpse into early beauty rituals, featuring a facet-cut flask and kohl tray, inspired by maritime trade. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/5bfes4b6  #KhaliliCollections #IslamicArt #CulturalHeritage #HistoryOfBeauty

✨ #ManuscriptMonday ✨ Today, we highlight a manuscript from our Islamic Arts Collection: The Jami‘ al-Mabadi’ wa’l-Ghayat by al-Marrakushi, dated 1070 AH (1659–60 AD), possibly from Iran or India. #IslamicArt

🕊️ History made today as Cardinal Robert Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope. In his first speech, he called for unity: “a Church that builds bridges and dialogue.” 📚 Learn more about key faith leaders with #InterfaithExplorers: https://interfaithexplorers.com #conclave

✨ For the #MetGala2025, we’re sharing a Coat with Talismanic Inscriptions (17th–18th c.), from Central Asia. Crafted in cotton tabby with bold red, black, gold, grey, and brown, it reflects centuries of style, symbolism, and protection.

🎨 Treasures of Imperial Japan showcases 98 masterpieces by Makuzu Kozan and Yabu Meizan, all featured in full colour. 80 pages of history and craftsmanship. 📚 📢 All proceeds support the charitable initiatives of the Khalili Foundation. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/4bxx6dp7

This World Book Day, we celebrate the power of books to #inspire, #educate, and connect. From our Islamic Art Collection: five exquisite Qur’an volumes from 18th-century India - sacred texts and stunning works of devotion. #WorldBookDay #IslamicArt

For Easter, we thought we’d share the world’s largest known Limoges enamelled plaque, depicting the Crucifixion of Christ, a masterpiece from our Enamels of the World collection. Created in Limoges, France, this monumental panel is a rare convergence of faith and craftsmanship.  #Easter2025

Today we’re sharing this album page from our Islamic Arts Collection depicts Mughal Emperor Awrangzeb on a hunting expedition. Created in early 18thC Mughal India, the painting is executed in gold and opaque watercolour on paper.

Eid Mubarak! 🌙✨ As we celebrate Eid al-Fitr, a time of joy, gratitude, and shared meals, we’re reflecting on the beauty of tradition with this 9th-century lustre-painted shallow bowl from Iraq. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/5bc3bhze #EidMubarak #EidAlFitr #IslamicArt #Ramadan #khalilicollection

Laylat al-Qadr: A Night of Power and Illumination ✨📖 This Ottoman Qur’an (1849–50), handwritten by a pupil of Hüseyin Vehbi, reflects a rich tradition of devotion and artistry. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/4hk4cvrr #LaylatAlQadr #NightOfPower #Quran #IslamicArt #Ramadan #khalilicollection

📢 Did You Know ... that the proprietor of the company Samurai Shokai promoted the foreign practice of shaking hands in Japan? 🤝 Read its history on Wikipedia: https://tinyurl.com/4xbnz2aa #DidYouKnow #SamuraiShokai #JapaneseArt #MeijiEra #KhaliliCollections #Wikipedia #KFMission

To celebrate #WorldPoetryDay we’re sharing this Calligraphic Composition in Découpage from our Islamic Arts Collection. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/2r877ksn

🌿✨ Nowruz & Coins ✨🌿 Coins on the Sofreh #HaftSeen symbolise prosperity. This Gold Dinar (444 AH / 1052–3 AD) from Tripoli bears the Shahada, a Qur’anic verse (9:33), and Fatimid Shi’a inscriptions. May this #Nowruz bring you renewal, faith, and joy! 🌸✨https://tinyurl.com/3dsf2vnm #Nowruz2025

Need St. Patrick’s Day outfit inspiration? This Edo-period uchikake (1830–70) isn’t shamrock green, but its chirimen silk and yūzen dyeing are stunning, depicting The Tale of Ise with Mount Fuji echoing Hokusai’s prints. #StPatricksDay #Kimono

At Ramadan’s midpoint, this 17th-century Mughal Qur’an stand (rahlah), carved from a single grey jade piece, symbolises devotion and artistry, enriching our spiritual connection. Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/bdejrpnp #Ramadan #QuranStand #IslamicArt #MughalIndia #Rahlah #khalilicollection #quran

Looking for a gift for the family for Eid? The Khalili Collection presents Top Trumps: Islamic Art to celebrate the launch of the Khalili Foundation’s Interfaith Explorers, a platform promoting cultural diversity and interfaith understanding. Available now: https://tinyurl.com/2s3etrfj