Showcasing over a hundred spectacular objects from Morocco to China, Power and Protection was the first major exhibition to explore the supernatural in the art of the Islamic world.
Within Islamic societies, people of all backgrounds have engaged in fascinating and sometimes controversial practices such as the casting of horoscopes and the interpretation of omens. The objects and works of art in this exhibition – which date from the 12th to the 20th centuries – have been used as sources of guidance and protection in both the private sphere and in dramatic events such as battles and royal births. Amongst the displays were astrological charts, dream-books, talismanic clothing and jewel-encrusted amulets.
Power and Protection was open at the Ashmolean Museum 20 October 2016 – 15 January 2017.
