In connection with the reopening of The David Collection, the museum will also present a new special exhibition: Fighting, Hunting, Impressing. Arms and Armour from the Islamic World 1500–1850.
Fighting, Hunting, Impressing. Arms and Armour from the Islamic World 1500 - 1850
April 21, 2021
New special exhibition and book publication
Explore the fascinating arsenals of Islamic princes – full of arms and armour for use in battle, when hunting and for courtly ceremonies
It is so fine that I don’t want to be separated from it for an instant. It is more valuable to me than all the expensive gems in the treasury.
(The Indian Mughal Emperor Jahangir (r. 1605–27) about the hilt of an exquisite dagger)
Why exhibit Islamic arms and armour?
To many, the idea of arms and armour may have negative connotations, but it should be remembered that weapons are in themselves neutral tools that have been used by people everywhere throughout the ages. The vast majority of arms and armour was created for men – in the Islamic world and elsewhere – and the finest and most lavish specimens were not intended for either fighting or hunting, but may be considered a kind of male jewellery and status symbols. Vast amounts of technical skill and artistic creativity went into the creation of these often spectacular, gem-encrusted objects – but make no mistake: they are still fully functional weapons!
What is typical of Islamic arms and armour?
The exhibition initially sheds light on the special tradition behind the Islamic world’s use of arms and armour. The concept of Furusiyya constitutes the chivalric code of the Islamic world: the practical education and moral edification that formed the foundation of the noble Islamic warrior. The weapons themselves often carry inscriptions, some of which are quotations from the Koran believed to bring good luck while others provide information on who made them, who owned them, and when. Often the calligraphy is of very high quality, and the texts may be inlaid in gold. The exhibition also touches on the collection history and exhibition history of the arms and armour – both in the Islamic world and in the West.
What types of arms are shown, and how were they used?
The exhibition encompasses three main themes that illustrate the different contexts in which Islamic weapons were primarily used: for fighting, hunting and impressing others. Visitors can see examples of many of the different types of arms and armour characteristic of the Islamic world: edged weapons, for example daggers, swords and curved sabres, as well as long-range weapons such as composite bows and guns. Also presented is protective equipment such as helmets, mail shirts and shields as well as objects that were used to convey messages and signals, including standards, trumpets and drums. One of the sections of the exhibition elucidates the practical functions of these diverse objects on the battlefield.
Hunting was a prestigious occupation for Muslim princes, who developed many different types of hunt. Its special status also meant that the quarry and other animals used during hunting were depicted in decorations on weapons, as is shown in another section. A third section is devoted to the important role played by arms and armour in more ceremonial contexts, such as audiences where rulers received their subjects, and in the exchange of gifts between the rulers and the elite, or between the rulers themselves Throughout the exhibition, miniature paintings and enlargements of these provide striking testimony to the various ways in which the weapons on display were used in their own time.
Where do the exhibits come from?
The arms and armour shown were originally made in an area extending from North Africa in the west to India in the east. Today they are all housed in Danish collections, with some of them arriving in Denmark as far back as the early seventeenth century. As a result of major detective work, objects from the David Collection have been richly supplemented by others from the National Museum of Denmark, Rosenborg Castle, Designmuseum Danmark and from an important private collection. Many of these objects are now on display for the first time ever.
Publication
The exhibition is accompanied by a major, lavishly illustrated 296-page publication comprising a number of articles on the exhibition’s themes well as a catalogue section detailing the 151 objects on display. A press release regarding the publication of the book from Strandberg Publishing can be read here. The book is sold at the museum at a price of DKK 349.95.
Exhibition period
The exhibition runs from 21 April, 2021 to January 2, 2022.
Access for the press
Due to the COVID-19 situation, no actual press conference is convened. Regardless of whether the museum has reopened to the public, interested journalists are welcome to sign up to visit the exhibition (one person at a time) with a curator on weekdays between 9.30 and 15.00. A copy of the catalogue will be handed out. Individual visits without a companion from the museum can only take place as soon as the museum is open to the public again.
Selected images
More press
2/2/2025
Curator of Art from the islamic World
Application deadline: 2 February 2025 at 10:00 PM (GMT+1)
The David Collection is looking for a skilled and dedicated curator to join the curatorial team responsible for managing our distinguished collection of art from the Islamic world. If you are passionate about the arts and cultures of the Islamic world and enthusiastic about engaging audiences through exhibitions, publications and research activities, we encourage you to apply.
About the museum
The David Collection is a private museum located in central Copenhagen which houses one of the world’s finest collections of art from the Islamic world as well as an exquisite collection of early modern Danish art and European art from the 17th-19th centuries. The museum was founded by the Danish lawyer and avid art collector Christian Ludvig David (1878–1960) and is today owned and operated by the C. L. David Foundation.
Since the 1960s, the collection of art from the Islamic world has continually expanded through new acquisitions, and today it comprises more than 3,000 works of art from across the Islamic world, created between the 7th and 19th centuries. The collection covers a broad range of categories, including miniature painting, calligraphy, ceramics, textiles, metalwork, glass and woodcarving. In addition to being showcased in an extensive permanent display across two floors, these works of art are also presented through temporary thematic exhibitions and explored in detail in the scholarly Journal of The David Collection.
About the position
The David Collection is a small but dedicated institution with a flat organisational structure that encourages initiative as well as collaboration across departments and fields of expertise.
As a curator you will join two curatorial colleagues and our director in caring for the art historical management of the Islamic collection. You will also be working closely with our curator of Danish and European art, our conservator, registrar and librarian as well as our department of communication and technical staff.
Responsibilities and duties
· Maintaining and developing the permanent Islamic exhibition.
· Organising thematic exhibitions.
· Writing informative and engaging texts about Islamic art, spanning from objects labels to articles for exhibition catalogues and academic journals.
· Producing content for our website and digital platforms.
· Conducting research related to possible new acquisitions.
· Studying and cataloguing new acquisitions and organising their integration into the permanent exhibition.
· Participating in the training of new student assistants for The David Collection’s educational programme.
· Responding to correspondence related to the collection and assisting visiting colleagues and researchers.
· Editing and contributing to the scholarly Journal of The David Collection.
· Giving lectures as part of our event programme David’s Bazar.
Prerequisites:
· A Ph.D. degree within a relevant field of study, e.g. Islamic Art history, Islamic Archaeology, Islamic studies or Islamic History.
· Reading proficiency in at least one of the following languages: Arabic, Persian or Ottoman Turkish.
· High proficiency in English as a written and spoken language.
· Proficiency in Danish or willingness to learn Danish within the first two years of employment.
· Work experience from related institutions (preferable).
What we offer
You will become a part of a highly motivated team dedicated to caring for an outstanding collection of fine art in the heart of Copenhagen. As a curator you will be able to work directly with the objects of the Islamic collection and make use of our rich research library to expand your knowledge of the field. You will also be encouraged to share this knowledge through publications as well as through public lectures.
Application and further details:
Start of employment: as soon as possible.
The position is a full-time permanent position of 37 hours per week with fixed working hours. Salary and conditions in accordance with the collective agreement for academics in Danish state employment. The position also includes pension and employee benefits.
The position is based at The David Collection in Copenhagen. You will therefore be expected to be located within daily commuting distance of the museum.
Application (in English or Danish), resumé, a list of publications and contact information for two references should be submitted in the form of a single document in .doc or .pdf-format sent to [email protected] with ‘Curator of art from the Islamic World’ in the subject heading. The deadline for submission is 2 February 2025, at 10:00 PM (GMT+1).
We expect to hold the first round of interviews in-person at The David Collection in February of 2025
If you have questions about the position, please contact Director Joachim Meyer at [email protected] or by calling +45 33 73 49 49. Additional information can also be found on our website www.davidmus.dk
1/2/2025
Bibliotekar søges
Davids Samling er et privat, fondsejet museum beliggende i hjertet af København, som huser en af verdens fineste samlinger af kunst fra den islamiske verden såvel som nyere dansk og ældre europæisk kunst og kunsthåndværk. I relation hertil rummer museet også et bibliotek og arkivsamlinger.
Biblioteket, der bestyres af en enkelt bibliotekar, er et specialbibliotek for islamisk kunst (ca. 11.000 titler), men der er også mindre emnegrupper relateret til museets øvrige samlinger. Det er et præcensbibliotek fordelt over flere rum og etager og uden adgang for brugere udefra. Biblioteket rummer litteratur på dansk, engelsk, tysk, fransk, spansk, noget italiensk, græsk, russisk, tyrkisk og mindre på arabisk, persisk m.m.
Om dig
Du er en positiv person, der ud over kærlighed til bøger også interesserer dig for ældre kunst og kultur – og gerne for den islamiske verden. Du har bibliotekserfaring og har måske arbejdet på en kulturinstitution. Du er empatisk og er vant til at indgå i et arbejdsmiljø med mange fagligheder.
Du vil i biblioteket komme til at beskæftige dig med
- - Indsamling/bestilling via gennemgang af boghandler- og forlagslister, katalogisering og systemplacering af litteratur inden for museets emneområder samt bistå de ansatte i deres søgning.
- - Evt. forbedring af den anvendte systematik samt organisering og nyopstilling af bogsamlingen.
- - Registrering i museets database af publiceringer af museets genstande.
- - Registrering af museets forskelligartede arkivmateriale.
- - Indlægning i database af de digitale etikettetekster (på dansk og engelsk).
- - Korrekturlæsning af museets tekster og publikationer, på både dansk og engelsk.
- - Vikar som ”postmester” på museumsmailen. Evt. andet, museumsfagligt arbejde.
Vi forventer, at du er
- - Bibliotekar D.B. eller Cand.scient.bibl. eller har anden relevant uddannelse.
- - at du har sproglig viden om dansk, engelsk, helst også tysk og fransk. Kendskab til visse andre sprog vil også være en fordel.er god til korrekturlæsning på dansk og engelsk.
- - kan katalogisere i bibliotekssystemet Reindex.
- - kan arbejde selvstændigt og sammen med andre.
- - er fleksibel i forhold til arbejdsopgavernes skiftende karakter.
- - er i rimelig god fysisk form, da arbejdet involverer nogen gang på trapper.
Om os
Som bibliotekar bliver du en del af en spændende og dynamisk arbejdsplads, hvor der er ressourcer til at tænke ambitiøst og langsigtet. Du kommer til at arbejde tæt sammen med engagerede kolleger, som alle nærer stor kærlighed til museet og samlingerne. Hverdagen hos os er kendetegnet ved godt humør og høje ambitioner udfoldet i smukke omgivelser. Vi er en mindre organisation, og vi løfter i flok.
Ansættelsesvilkår
Stillingen er en fuldtidsstilling, som forventes besat pr. 1. marts 2025. Løn efter kompetencer og erfaring.
Ansøgningsfrist 2. januar 2025 kl. 12.
Første samtale forventes afholdt d. 21. og 22. januar
Ansøgning, cv og relevante bilag stiles til [email protected], i emnefeltet: Bibliotekar.
Har du spørgsmål, er du velkommen til inden 20.12 at ringe eller skrive til Nana Kloster Lund: 33734949, eller [email protected].
4/19/2024
Mere end Ord. Kalligrafi fra den islamiske verden.
Fra den 24. maj kan du gå på opdagelse i den islamiske kalligrafi som kunstart og dens historie, når Davids Samling åbner dørene til særudstillingen ”Mere end ord – kalligrafi fra den islamiske verden”. Og titlen skal tages helt bogstaveligt, for ordene og de smukke bogstaver antager flere betydninger.
4/27/2023
Samlerens Valg
Fra den 12. maj viser Davids Samling en udstilling med nyere dansk kunst, primært købt af C.L. David selv.