A Passion for Tiles in Victorian Britain with Melanie Gibson
Wednesday 15, 22, 29 April and 6 May 2026, 10.00am – 12.00pm
A short course of four classes looking at the production of tiles in the Islamic World with Dr Melanie Gibson, co-curator of The Arab Hall ‒ Past and Present and author of The Arab Hall. Frederic Leighton ‒ Traveller and Collector.
In this series of four two-hour classes, participants will be introduced to some of the finest examples of tiled architecture in the Islamic world, looking closely at the splendid colours and designs of their tessellations, as well as discussing how and where the tiles were made. Some of these buildings, such as the Rustem Pasha mosque in Istanbul and the Darwish Pasha Mosque in Damascus, both dated to the 16th century, as well as the 17th-century Aqsunqur Mosque in Cairo could have been visited by the artist Frederic Leighton who made long trips to Turkey, Egypt and Syria in the ten years before he became President of the Royal Academy in 1878.
Useful Information
- All interest welcome
- Tutored classes run for 2 hours and will include opportunities to explore the historic house and exhibitions
- Wednesday 15 April 2026, 10am-12pm - A survey of tile production in the Islamic world
An introduction to typical manufacturing and glazing techniques by looking at some of the best-known and best preserved examples of tiled architecture in the Islamic world.
- Wednesday 22 April 2026, 10am-12pm - Tiles from Ottoman Turkey and Syria
An exploration of 16th- and 17th-century production of tiles at Iznik in Turkey and Damascus in Syria, of which there are some very fine examples in the Arab Hall.
- Wednesday 29 April 2026, 10am-12pm - Tiles from Iran and Central Asia
An investigation into the long history of tile production in the cities of Kashan and Isfahan in Iran and Samarqand in Uzbekistan.
- Wednesday 6 May 2026, 10am-12pm - A Passion For Tiles in Victorian Britain
An appraisal of the increased interest amongst collectors, notably Frederic Leighton, in the historic tiles of Syria, Turkey and Iran, as well as the use of Islamic designs by 19th-century industrial tile manufacturers such as Minton and Pilkington and the artist William De Morgan whose inspiration came from repairing and replacing the tiles of the Arab Hall.
Meet Dr Melanie Gibson
Dr. Melanie Gibson, BA (Oxon) MA, PhD (SOAS, London University) is a well-known authority on Middle Eastern ceramics, writing and lecturing on them worldwide. Having studied Arabic at Oxford University, where her interest in the history of the ceramics of the Islamic world began, she gained her doctorate at SOAS, University of London. From 2013 to 2016 she was head of the Art History department at the New College of the Humanities, London, and from 2006 to 2017, the convenor and course tutor of the Arts of the Islamic World module in the Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art at SOAS. A Council Member of the Oriental Ceramic Society, she is also an Executive Trustee of Gingko and Editor of the Gingko Art Series, and a Trustee of the Friends of Leighton House, where she first became fascinated by the history behind the creation of The Arab Hall.
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Ticket options
Wednesday 15, 22, 29 April and 6 May 2026, 10.00am – 12.00pm
A short course of four classes looking at the production of tiles in the Islamic World with Dr Melanie Gibson, co-curator of The Arab Hall ‒ Past and Present and author of The Arab Hall. Frederic Leighton ‒ Traveller and Collector.
In this series of four two-hour classes, participants will be introduced to some of the finest examples of tiled architecture in the Islamic world, looking closely at the splendid colours and designs of their tessellations, as well as discussing how and where the tiles were made. Some of these buildings, such as the Rustem Pasha mosque in Istanbul and the Darwish Pasha Mosque in Damascus, both dated to the 16th century, as well as the 17th-century Aqsunqur Mosque in Cairo could have been visited by the artist Frederic Leighton who made long trips to Turkey, Egypt and Syria in the ten years before he became President of the Royal Academy in 1878.
Useful Information
- All interest welcome
- Tutored classes run for 2 hours and will include opportunities to explore the historic house and exhibitions
- Wednesday 15 April 2026, 10am-12pm - A survey of tile production in the Islamic world
An introduction to typical manufacturing and glazing techniques by looking at some of the best-known and best preserved examples of tiled architecture in the Islamic world.
- Wednesday 22 April 2026, 10am-12pm - Tiles from Ottoman Turkey and Syria
An exploration of 16th- and 17th-century production of tiles at Iznik in Turkey and Damascus in Syria, of which there are some very fine examples in the Arab Hall.
- Wednesday 29 April 2026, 10am-12pm - Tiles from Iran and Central Asia
An investigation into the long history of tile production in the cities of Kashan and Isfahan in Iran and Samarqand in Uzbekistan.
- Wednesday 6 May 2026, 10am-12pm - A Passion For Tiles in Victorian Britain
An appraisal of the increased interest amongst collectors, notably Frederic Leighton, in the historic tiles of Syria, Turkey and Iran, as well as the use of Islamic designs by 19th-century industrial tile manufacturers such as Minton and Pilkington and the artist William De Morgan whose inspiration came from repairing and replacing the tiles of the Arab Hall.
Meet Dr Melanie Gibson
Dr. Melanie Gibson, BA (Oxon) MA, PhD (SOAS, London University) is a well-known authority on Middle Eastern ceramics, writing and lecturing on them worldwide. Having studied Arabic at Oxford University, where her interest in the history of the ceramics of the Islamic world began, she gained her doctorate at SOAS, University of London. From 2013 to 2016 she was head of the Art History department at the New College of the Humanities, London, and from 2006 to 2017, the convenor and course tutor of the Arts of the Islamic World module in the Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art at SOAS. A Council Member of the Oriental Ceramic Society, she is also an Executive Trustee of Gingko and Editor of the Gingko Art Series, and a Trustee of the Friends of Leighton House, where she first became fascinated by the history behind the creation of The Arab Hall.
For updates on all of our upcoming events sign up to our museums e-newsletter.
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