The collections managed by the Orient Department are internationally renowned, especially because of the acquisitions made in recent decades. They include calligraphy and book art, ceramics and architectural fragments, and the collection of pre-Mongolian Islamic metalwork.

The exhibition presents objects from different periods and regions. It begins with the presentation of Islam as a book religion, and from there spans from historical urban cultures to evidence of traditional peasant and nomadic life. The reconstruction of a bazar street from Tashqurghan (Afghanistan) at the end of the exhibition should also be mentioned.

Khurasan

The Khurasan section of the Orient exhibition, redesigned in 2020/21, presents the results of a multi-year research project. Khurasan, Middle Persian for “land of the sunrise,” has disappeared from today’s map. The area stretches from the Iranian plateau to Central Asia. Throughout history, the region has been assigned to shifting spheres of control and influence. The joint project “Khurasan – Land of the Sunrise” as part of the funding program “The Language of Objects” of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research took a close look at this historical region. Based on the metalwork collection of the Linden-Museum, the project successfully advanced research on metal art from the 8th to the 13th century.

Amidst Wind and Sky
The joint textile work Amidst Wind and Sky, created with the artist Aman Mojadidi as part of the special exhibition Stuttgart – Afghanistan in 2024, enriches the presentation. It stands for belonging and solidarity. It also challenges controversial narratives that often misuse flags as tools of hatred, extremism, social division and blind patriotism.