L. A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art
מוזיאון לאמנות האסלאם
A boutique museum of Islamic ceramics, glass, metalwork and carpets, also home to an antique European clock and watch collection, including the Breguet 'Marie Antoinette' watch.
The Museum of Islamic Art sits in the affluent Talbiya neighborhood. It opened in 1974 and is named after the orientalist L. A. Mayer. The galleries present ceramics, glassware, metalwork, jewelry, miniature paintings and textiles from the Islamic world between the 7th and 19th centuries, with a clear thread running from Spain to India. Another highlight is the Salmanson collection of antique clocks and watches, including the complex pocket watch Breguet made for Marie Antoinette. It was stolen in 1983, not recovered until 2007, and is now one of the museum's prized treasures. The museum is not large but of very high quality, and it often hosts contemporary art exchange exhibitions. It is generally open on Saturday mornings and closes early on Fridays. It is about a 20-minute walk from the city center, or you can take a bus.
Opening hours
Mon–Thu approx. 10:00 am–3:00 pm (some dates extended); Fri and Sat shorter (check official website)
Nearby sights
- Monastery of the Holy Cross
- Israel Museum
- Knesset
- Yemin Moshe & Montefiore Windmill
- Bible Lands Museum
- The First Station
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- Ben Yehuda Street