Islamic Art at the Louvre - The Outstretched Hand

An exclusive tour of the new Department of Islamic Art at the Louvre. A fascinating journey to the heart of a culture that has constantly transcended borders. Some 18,000 pieces, more than a thousand years of history spanning a territory from Spain to India: beads, ceramic tiles, architectural elements, carpets, furniture, and a Mamluk porch. How to present this exceptional collection, a testament to a rich and complex civilization that spoke not only Arabic, but also Turkish, Farsi, and Hindi? A few months before its opening to the public on September 22, 2012, Richard Copans followed the creation of the Louvre's new, eighth department dedicated to Islamic art.