The small collection of Islamic Egyptian items mostly consists of applied art – textiles, ceramics, glassware, and wooden and metal articles, covering reasonably fully the development of Egyptian art from the 7th century, when Egypt was conquered by the Arabs, to the downfall of the Mamelukes in the 16th century.

There are coloured woollen textiles, made like a tapestry, showing themes characteristic of the pre-Islamic period; two remarkable vessels of rock crystal created during the Fatimid period (10th-12 th centuries); of glassware, we should note some glass lamps decorated with coloured enamel, one of which has an inscription dating it to 1346-1347; and there are bronzes, richly decorated with gold and silver incrustation.

If you enjoyed this collection, you might want to also visit the other collections at the State Hermitage Museum.

Oriental Coins

The Golden Rooms