Museums and masterpieces as Qatar develops cultural scene

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2007

DOHA (AFP) — Oil and gas-rich Qatar which is poor in archaeological sites is vying to create a cultural scene through building museums and acquiring precious masterpieces.

"We have an immense collection of pieces coming from several countries, collected over 15 years, which will be displayed in a series of museums, the first of which should be inaugurated by the end of 2007 or early 2008," said Sabiha al-Khemir, the director of Qatar's Museum of Islamic Art.

Among the diverse pieces are a bronze hind whose body is decorated with arabesque palm leaves, which was to adorn the fountain of a 10th-century Andalusian palace.

Other items include a 12th century woman-bird on glossed ceramics from Syria, a white jade amulet from Moghul India, and a poem's calligraphy...