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The Hadassah and Daniel Khalili Memorial Lecture on Islamic Art and Culture explores the far-reaching impact of Islamic carpets beyond their artistic value. In this illustrated talk, Walter Denny examines how these textiles, highly sought after since the 14th century, travelled across Central Asia, Japan, Europe, and North America. More than just decorative objects, Islamic […]
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At last night’s Commonwealth Day reception, we were deeply honoured to welcome His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty The Queen. A defining moment of the evening was the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize, awarded to Rev. Dr. James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa for their unwavering dedication to peacebuilding. Presented by […]
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Former Enemies Unite for Peace: Nigerian Religious Leaders to be Honoured at Commonwealth Day The Khalili Foundation is proud to announce the first-ever Commonwealth Peace Prize, to be awarded to two exceptional peacebuilders from Nigeria at the upcoming Commonwealth Day reception on March 10th at Marlborough House. Pastor Dr James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr […]
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✨ Available for purchase now! ✨ Discover the wonders of Islamic art with Top Trumps: Islamic Art, created in association with the Interfaith Explorer programme. This unique pack features 30 cards showcasing breathtaking artworks from the Khalili Collections, blending history, innovation, and strategy for a fun and educational experience! Perfect for all ages, discover hidden […]
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The influence of Islamic civilization on the global story of science is well documented. Such a contribution can at least in part be attributed to the open, cross-cultural approach to scientific enquiry that defined Islamic intellectual life. This essence of this is captured in a remarkable Hebrew-inscribed astrolabe produced during the Islamic Golden Age in […]
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Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili has just returned from a busy tour of America’s East Coast where he had the opportunity to speak about his extraordinary book, The Art of Peace, highlighting the power of art to foster peace and harmony. The week started at Yale University’s International Leadership Center, hosted by Director Emma Sky, […]
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The Khalili Collections refers collectively to eight distinct art collections assembled by Professor Sir Nasser D. Khalili over a five-decade period. Together, the Collections comprise some 35,000 works of art. Each collection is on its own merit the largest and most comprehensive of its kind. Here’s an overview of these collections by the numbers. Collection […]
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The Khalili Foundation has announced a new partnership with UNESCO: funding support for the Memory of the World programme, which seeks to digitally preserve the incredible diversity of the world’s documentary heritage. The 496 Memory of the World inscriptions cover a vast array of cultures, time periods, religions, and initiatives for peace. Many of these […]
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The Khalili Foundation has been announced as the Founder Member of The King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP) at an event hosted at the University of Samoa with His Majesty King Charles III, Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili, The Hon. Philip Davis, Prime Minister of the Bahamas and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Secretary of […]
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The Commonwealth Secretariat and the Khalili Foundation have recently introduced the Commonwealth Peace Prize, an award aimed at recognising outstanding individuals who contribute to global peacebuilding efforts. Announced on 21 September 2024, coinciding with the International Day of Peace, this prestigious award celebrates individuals with a proven track record of resolving conflicts, promoting social cohesion, […]
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We are thrilled to share the exciting news that Europeana has reached a significant milestone—1000 editorial stories published on their platform! As proud collaborators with Europeana, the Khalili Foundation is honoured to have contributed to this achievement. Our shared stories celebrate the rich cultural heritage that connects us all. Europeana is dedicated to empowering the […]
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Yesterday, the English Wikipedia home page received an impressive 4.8 million visits. For 24 hours, visitors were greeted with an introductory paragraph about the “Empire of the Sultans” and a striking image of an Iznik flask prominently displayed at the top of the page. This spotlight led 33,500 visitors to explore the “Empire of the […]
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Our Islamic art collection is featured in Assassin’s Creed: Mirage. Dr. Glaire Anderson’s educational contributions to the game are highlighted in the YouTube video (below), showcasing how the collection’s exquisite artworks enhance the game’s historical depth and cultural authenticity. This collaboration extends the influence of the Khalili Collection beyond traditional art spheres, demonstrating its role […]
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In celebration of Hajj season, we are sharing insightful stories from the collaboration between the Khalili Collection and Google Arts & Culture. Hajj up Close Explore our digitised Hajj collection, meticulously preserved, researched, catalogued, and published as part of one of the most ambitious art scholarship projects in modern history, in partnership with Google Arts […]
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Click the play button above to watch the opening speeches, Commonwealth Faith Festival, by Rt Hon Patricia Scotland and Sir David Khalili Learn more about the Commonwealth Faith Festival.
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This evening marks the beginning of Hajj and we’re excited to share that this Chinese scroll with the text of Surat Al-Hajj from our Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage Collection is today’s featured picture on the Wikipedia home page. Almost five metres in length, the scroll’s illustrations include a map entitled “Routes of the […]
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Sir David Khalili delivered a landmark keynote lecture to the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge on 23rd May, co-hosted by CRSD. The lecture titled “The Art of Peace”, based on Sir David’s recently published autobiography of the same name, took the audience on the journey of a collector whose primary purpose has […]
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On Thursday, 2 May at Kellogg College, Oxford University, Ban Ki-moon, who as UN Secretary General (2007–2016) played a major role in securing the Paris Climate Agreement and promoting the Sustainable Development Goals, was elected as a Kellogg Fellow. Ban Ki-moon visited Kellogg to deliver the Inaugural Human Rights Lecture: Human Rights in a Fractured […]
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Welcome to our hybrid event at the University of Cambridge, where we will delve into the Art of Peace! Join us on Thu May 23 2024 at 17:15 GMT+0100 for an insightful and inspiring keynote lecture at the Faculty of Divinity and Zoom. Discover the power of peace and learn how to cultivate it in […]
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Available for download now via Amazon, this digital edition makes Sir David Khalili’s inspiring life story and profound insights into the art world accessible at your fingertips. Don’t miss the opportunity to delve into one of the most captivating autobiographies of the year, wherever and whenever you prefer.
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The Commonwealth Faith Festival, launched by the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC and Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili, Chairman of the Khalili Foundation, aims to foster collaboration and understanding among youth, peacebuilding, faith, and community groups across the Commonwealth. This initiative, part of a collaborative effort between the Khalili Foundation and the Commonwealth Secretariat, seeks […]
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In the latest installment of the renowned video game series, Assassins’ Creed Mirage, players are treated to an immersive journey through history, where the rich tapestry of Islamic art comes to life. Among the many treasures featured in the game are five stunning artworks from the esteemed Khalili Foundation collection, each offering a glimpse into […]
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On February 2024, amidst esteemed guests including Commonwealth High Commissioners, religious leaders, academics, and youth ambassadors, the 2024 Commonwealth Faith Festival was inaugurated by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, alongside our Founder, Sir David Khalili. The festival, themed ‘Peacebuilding through Faith,’ featured roundtable discussions aimed at identifying key focus areas and […]
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We are thrilled to share that “The Art of Peace” by Sir David Khalili has been chosen as the Pick of the Week at the Bradford Literature Festival. The tweet reads:“This week’s #PickOfTheWeek is ‘The Art of Peace’ by Sir David Khalili. Chosen by our CEO and AD, Syima Aslam. This book offers rich insights […]
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In recognition of his outstanding scholarly achievements, Sir David was in January 2024 appointed Honorary Fellow at the University of Cambridge via its Centre for Resilience and Sustainable Development (CRSD). “Sir David’s outstanding academic achievements and the depth of his scholarly pursuits have caught the attention of our esteemed institution”, said Prof Nazia M Habib, Founder and Director of […]
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In 1967, Sir David Khalili finished his military service in Iran and travelled to study in the United States with $750 – his remaining royalties from a book he wrote when he was just 14. Over the course of the next five decades he single-handedly, piece by piece, assembled eight of the finest art collections […]
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A number of fine Meiji period Japanese Cloisonné masterpieces have been presented to the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford by Sir David and Lady Khalili. They were presented in honour of His Majesty King Charles III; The Rt. Hon Lord Patten of Barnes; The Rt Hon Baroness Amos of Brondesbury; Professor Dame Louise Richardson; Professor Irene Tracey; […]
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ASSOULINE SPRING 2022 LEGENDS COLLECTION HAJJ AND THE ARTS OF PILGRIMAGE Text by Qaisra M. Khan, foreword by Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili “The first House [of worship] to be established for people was the one at Mecca. It is a blessed place; a source of guidance for all people.” — The Qur’an, Surah […]
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Volume XI (in four parts) Brasses, Bronze and Silver of the Islamic Lands The metalwork holdings in the Khalili Collection are wide ranging and diverse, dating from the 7th century to the 20th century, and covering most of the Islamic world, from the Mediterranean to Brunei, and from Egypt to Central Asia. The Collection includes […]
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Khalili images on WikipediaThis has been a milestone year for the Khalili Collections partnership with Wikimedia UK, with the creation of more wiki content and reaching an even larger audience than in 2020. This is thanks to Dr Martin Poulter, our Wikimedian-in-Residence, who has done a phenomenal job in helping us with bulk image and […]
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Alongside the successful program on BBC click on Hajj and simultaneously In conjunction with the yearly celebration of Hajj on 17th July, we are privilege to announce an innovative website showing a selection of artworks to take you through a journey to the heart of Islam, illustrating the rich religious, spiritual, cultural and artistic heritage […]
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The Khalili Collection’s pioneering digitisation programme was the main feature of the latest BBC Click episode titled “High-Res Hajj”. The episode coincides with the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which takes place later this week in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. As the BBC highlights, the Khalili Collections holds “the largest and most significant group of objects related to […]
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The Democratisation of Culture KNOWLEDGE & WISDOM Start Time 25 February 2021 5:00 pm Venue Zoom MODERATED BY: Anne McElvoy – Senior editor a The Economist, and head of Economist Radio ON THE PANEL: Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili – globally-renowned scholar, collector and pioneer of cultural philanthropy. His mission is to promote intercultural and […]
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The Khalili Collections and the Khalili Foundation are proud to announce that our friend and founder, Professor Nasser David Khalili, has been awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. This award has been given in recognition of David’s lifelong contribution to cultural philanthropy, education and interfaith relations. David has asked us to pass […]
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The Khalili Collections proud to be major contributors to a new V&A Kimono Exhibition: “Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk” 29 Feb 2020 – 1 Jun 2020 The Khalili Collections are proud to be major contributors to the current blockbuster exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum titled “Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk”. At his opening night speech, […]
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The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies hosted a landmark public lecture by Professor Khalili on ‘Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage’ on Wednesday 26th February. The Khalili ‘Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage’ Collection – comprising approximately 4500 objects related to Hajj and the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah – is considered by […]
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Wikimedia UK has launched a landmark partnership with the UK-based Khalili Collections – one of the greatest and most comprehensive private collections in the world. As part of the “Masterpieces of the World” project, the Khalili Collections will initially provide a Creative Commons license to several high resolution images, as well as to summaries of […]
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Google Arts & Culture has launched a historic partnership with the UK-based Khalili Collections – one of the greatest and most comprehensive private collections in the world. Viewers will now be able to use Google Arts & Culture features – such as browsing for art by year, colour or geographical origin – to explore the […]
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The Khalili Collections are proud to announce the reuniting of a landmark Japanese garniture, last seen in complete formation over 120 years ago at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, which attracted 27 million visitors, which at the time was almost half the American population. The three-piece enamel garniture in the Palace of Fine […]
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The Khalili Collections is proud to be the major contributor to a landmark exhibition on the Hajj at the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam. Longing for Mecca offers a unique insight into the Hajj, Islam’s most important pilgrimage and one of the world’s biggest religious, spiritual and cultural phenomena. The exhibition is on display until 12th January […]
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The Khalili Collections is proud to be the major contributor to a landmark exhibition at the Guimet Museum in Paris to mark the 150th anniversary of the Meiji Restoration. This exhibition addresses various aspects of the modernization of Japan and the internationalization of artistic production through different artistic techniques. It includes, among other things, examples […]
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To mark the end of the Islamic month of Dhu’l Hijjah, we are delighted to share with you our new short film: “Hajj and the Arts of Pilgrimage“. We hope you find it enriching. With best wishes Professor Nasser D. Khalili Founder, The Khalili Collections
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Dearest Friends, We are delighted to announce that on the 21st February at 8pm, Sky Arts (channel 122) will broadcast a documentary about Prof. Khalili’s journey as a collector. Titled The Art of Collecting, the film will highlight multiple objects from the Eight Khalili Collections as National Treasures. We hope you enjoy watching it . […]
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BEYOND IMAGINATION Treasures of Imperial Japan from the Khalili Collection 19th to early 20th century 5 July 2017 – 1 October 2017 The Moscow Kremlin Museums opened this exhibition presenting Japanese applied and decorative art of the 19th to early 20th century from The Khalili Collection. A variety of world famous Japanese kimono, unsurpassed samples […]
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SOAS Honorary Fellow Professor Nasser David Khalili, KSS, KCSS spoke on the preservation of history through art collecting at SOAS University of London on 7 December. Professor Khalili is a world renowned scholar, collector, benefactor and philanthropist as well as a successful businessman. His collections, which consist of 35,000 items, include the arts of the […]
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Showcasing over a hundred spectacular objects from Morocco to China, Power and Protection is 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. […]
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