Muscat:
The National Museum of Oman signed an agreement to lend two historical items to the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi.
The country’s first professional museum certified by the International Council of Museums loaned for two years a stash of silver coins dating back to the early Islamic period and one of the rare incense burners in the Sultanate.
The sea-shelled shape incense burner will be placed at the frankincense section at the museum. The collection of Islamic coins or Al Waqaba (meaning treasure in Arabic) were found in the Sadamah village, and date back to between 8BC-13BC. The incense burner was found in Al Baleed, and dates back to the sixth and seven century.
The stash of more than 400 silver dirhams was discovered in 2005 in the Al Waqbah village, and had remained unseen since the early Islamic period, according to National Museum officials.
Speaking about the loaned artefacts, Jamal Bin Hassan Al Musawi, Director-General of the National Museum, said: “We are delighted to be associated with the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi. With The National Museum of Oman lending two of its items to the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi, Oman’s rich culture will be highlighted by the Louvre Museum. This will heighten the cultural role of Oman through the ages as the bridge between the east and the west.”
He also said that the National Museum was the first museum in the country to be established as per the International Council of Museum standards.
Al Musawi said it was the sole museum in the Middle East to encompass Arabic Braille script for visually impaired visitors.
The National Museum and Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority — the representative of the Louvre Abu Dhabi — signed an agreement on the rare artefacts, which will be displayed at the Abu Dhabi museum.
The agreement was signed between Al Musawi and by Mohammad Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority. The ceremony was attended by Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director-General of the Department of Culture and Tourism, and Manuel Rabaté, Director of the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
