Keeping Time

Today I finally visited the museum in my neighbourhood -- the LA Mayer Museum for Islamic Art. I say finally because this museum is open on Saturdays when few other things are and it is easy to walk to from any of the 3 places I have lived.  Inevitably, I found other things to do on Saturdays. As it turned out today was perfect. It's gotten rather hot; the museum was a welcoming air conditioned refuge. And, with few other people in attendance there was no jostling for position in front of exhibits. Sadly, the exhibits on early Islam and Ottoman Art were both closed today.

Opened in 1974, the LA Mayer was founded with the objective "to promote within the Israeli pubic an interest, appreciation and understanding of the cultural heritage and artistic achievements of the Islamic peoples". The museum exhibits Islamic art (ceramics, metal objects, jewelry, and textiles, and weapons) of the Islamic dynasties over one thousand years; in some ways it is the not flashy, little sibling of the Doha Museum of Islamic Art. Small but fantastic in Jerusalem is the "Harrari Hoard" - a collection of eleventh century silver found in a ceramic jug somewhere in Persia, presumably stashed by a wealthy merchant under duress and found centuries later. The fine craftsmanship seen in the museum's collection is a reminder that we do indeed stand on the shoulders of giants.

The Museum includes space for seasonal exhibits by contemporary Islamic artists. On right now is "Between Sorrow and Beauty" by Fatma Abu-Rumi in which she explores "the tragic condition of Arab women".

Also housed in the museum is The Sir David Salomons Collection of Watches and Clocks. Totally amazing, incomparable; a delight. Two famous things about this collection:

1. It includes a watch commissioned (possibly by her lover - the intrigue!) for Marie Antoinette and not finished until long after the guillotine finished her. The watch contains every "complication" (bit of technology) that was available at the time.
2. 106 pieces of the collection were stolen in 1983;  to date 96 pieces have been recovered (read the story at Wikipedia's LA Mayer entry). Details of the heist have become part of the exhibit.

I have always loved watches and been fascinated by the practice of timekeeping so this exhibit was a great treat. Breguet's genius is overwhelming: perpetuelles, the sympathique clock and its watch, and the montre a tact (the indiglo of the 19th century -- you can tell time in the dark by feel on the side of the watch).

The LA Mayer is a very good small museum; a neighbourhood treasure.