Tale of the Tile The Ceramic Traditions of Pakistan
23rd June 2006 - 17th July 2010 The exhibition showcased the history and development of ceramic crafts in Pakistan from Mehrgarh c. 7000 B.C. and the Indus Valley Civilisation c. 3500 B.C. to the present day. It featured over four hundred historical objects borrowed from the Quetta Museum, the Sindh Provincial Museum, the Department of Archaeology (Punjab), the Department of Culture (Sindh) and the National Museum of Pakistan together with private collections. Objects on display included beautiful sherds, vessels, tiles and architectural elements from the historic cities of Mehrgarh, Multan, Jhang, Uch, Sitpur, Lahore, Sehwan, Kamarro Sharif, Thatta and Hala, concluding with its display of contemporary ceramics. Two spectacular installations included the recreation of a façade from the shrine of Pir Mohammad Ashraf Shah Quraishi in Kamarro Sharif, Tando Allahyar, with original tiles that were removed during its restoration in 1917. The second consisted of an imposing installation of a façade inspired by the tomb of Bibi Jawindi in Uch, c. 1493 A.D. Additional highlights included the recreation of a corridor of pillars and arches from the Shah Jehan Mosque in Thatta, recreated by traditional craftsmen (kashigars) from Hala and Nasarpur, a potters’ atelier with a kiln, a façade from the lesser known tomb of Tahir Khan Nahar in Sitpur and original tiles shrines in Multan and Uch. Exhibits loaned from the Lahore Museum and the Sindh Provincial Museum included vessels and platters displayed at the Great exhibition of 1851