Tile, wood and gold in the Islamic galleries

Begin with the Mihrab in Gallery 455. Small pieces of glazed tile form both its patterns and its Arabic writing. This prayer niche once marked the direction of Mecca in a religious school in Iran. In Gallery 461, the Damascus Room preserves woodwork from a reception room in a wealthy Syrian house. Look across its raised seating area from the visitor opening. The Goa Stone and Gold Case in Gallery 463 brings the visit down to a handheld object whose contents people scraped into liquid as a remedy. All three stops are on Floor 2. We’ll look at how each was made and what people used it for. View the Damascus Room from outside its barrier.