Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Room 5 | Textiles gallery

Explore the beauty and variety of Eastern Art objects on display in the Textiles gallery.

Textiles gallery

Edward Lane

"As I approached the shore, I felt like an Eastern bridegroom, about to lift up the veil of his bride, and to see, for the first time, the features which were to charm, or disappoint, or disgust him. I [...] was about to throw myself entirely among strangers; to adopt their language, their customs and their dress; and, in associating almost exclusively with the natives, to prosecute the study of their literature. My feelings therefore, on that occasion, partook too much of anxiety to be very pleasing."

(Edward Lane, diary entry, 17 September 1825 - from An Englishman’s Travels in Egypt: Edward Lane in Cairo (1825-35))

Edward William Lane (1801-1876) lived in Cairo for several years. He immersed himself in Egyptian society: he adopted local dress, rented a house in the Arab Quarter, and developed a wide circle of Egyptian friends. Trained as an engraver, he recorded his observations in sketches and drawings, and he kept diaries and notebooks. When he returned to England he became a renowned Arabic scholar.

The Ashmolean has a set of Turkish-style clothing worn by Lane during his time in Cairo, donated by his direct descendant Catherine Dupré.

Striped mashru jacket (EA1983.7) Striped mashru jacket (EA1983.7)    Turkish man's jacket (EA1983.5) Turkish man's jacket (EA1983.5)   Turkish man's trousers (EA1983.6) Turkish man's trousers (EA1983.6)   Velvet and leather purse (EA1983.16) Velvet and leather purse (EA1983.16)
Notice

Objects may have since been removed or replaced from a gallery. Click into an individual object record to confirm whether or not an object is currently on display. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis, so contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular Eastern Art object.

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