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Marrakech Museum

Coordinates: 31°37′52″N 7°59′12″W / 31.6312°N 7.9868°W / 31.6312; -7.9868
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Marrakech Museum
Main courtyard of the Marrakech Museum
Map
Established1997
LocationMarrakesh, Morocco
Coordinates31°37′52″N 7°59′12″W / 31.6312°N 7.9868°W / 31.6312; -7.9868
Typeart museum
Key holdingsnumismatics, ceramics
CollectionsMoorish art

The Museum of Marrakech is a historic palace and museum located in the old center of Marrakesh, Morocco. In addition to its notable architecture, the museum's collection showcases various historic art objects and contemporary art from Morocco.[1][2]

History

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The museum is housed in the Dar Mnebhi Palace, constructed at the beginning of the 20th century by Mehdi al-Mnebhi.[3][4] Al-Mnebhi was a qaid of the Mnabha tribe and the vizier (minister) of war under Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz, from 1900 to 1908, replacing Ba Ahmad as the sultan's favourite.[3][5][4] Al-Mnebhi also had other residences such as the Mnebhi Palace in Fez. His Marrakesh palace was later seized by the family of Pasha Thami El Glaoui, the autocratic ruler of southern Morocco under French rule, while Mnebhi was out of the country and serving as ambassador in London. After Morocco regained its independence (1956), the palace was seized by the state and in 1965 it was converted to a girls' school. After a period of neglect, the palace was carefully renovated by the Omar Benjelloun Foundation and converted into a museum in 1997.[1][4][2][3]

Architecture

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The palace is an example of late 19th-century and early 20th-century Moroccan architecture, one of many such palaces built by wealthy elites during this period.[3] The palace consists of a large central courtyard, which was originally an open riad garden planted with trees,[3] but today is fully paved and roofed over. The courtyard is centered around several fountains and surrounded by roofed galleries and wall fountains, all decorated with colorful zellij tilework and painted and carved cedar wood. The courtyard today also contains a huge, central chandelier made up of brass pieces cut into ornate geometric and arabesque motifs. Various rooms branch off the courtyard, including chambers with more ornate wood and stucco decoration. The palace also had roof terraces with a menzeh (pavilion) that provided it with views over the rest of the city. It was also equipped with multiple facilities typical of large palaces, such as kitchens and a hammam (bathhouse) – the latter being distinguished by its characteristic domed and vaulted chambers.[3][1][2]

  • Entrance courtyard of the museum
    Entrance courtyard of the museum
  • The main interior courtyard of the palace/museum
    The main interior courtyard of the palace/museum
  • Ornate wall fountain in the main courtyard, with painted wood and zellij decoration
    Ornate wall fountain in the main courtyard, with painted wood and zellij decoration
  • Brass chandelier over the middle of the courtyard
    Brass chandelier over the middle of the courtyard
  • One of the chambers and exhibition rooms off the courtyard, with painted wood ceiling and stucco and zellij wall decoration
    One of the chambers and exhibition rooms off the courtyard, with painted wood ceiling and stucco and zellij wall decoration
  • Domed ceiling in the hammam section of the palace
    Domed ceiling in the hammam section of the palace

Museum collection

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The museum holds a diverse collection of traditional art objects from different regions of Morocco and different parts of its population, such as, weapons, carpets, costumes, pottery from Fez, Berber jewellery, Jewish liturgical objects, and more. The museum also holds exhibits of contemporary art and other themes in its kitchen and hammam sections, and sometimes hosts cultural events such as theatre and concerts.[6][1][7][2][8][9]

  • 19th-century saddle on display in the museum (and historic rifle in the background)
    19th-century saddle on display in the museum (and historic rifle in the background)
  • A 19th-century kummiya (dagger)
    A 19th-century kummiya (dagger)
  • Berber jewellery (20th century)
    Berber jewellery (20th century)
  • Jewish liturgical objects on display
    Jewish liturgical objects on display

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marrakech Museum.
  1. ^ a b c d "Musée de Marrakech | Marrakesh, Morocco Attractions". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  2. ^ a b c d The Rough Guide to Morocco (9th ed.). Rough Guides. 2010. p. 359. ISBN 9781848369771.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Wilbaux, Quentin (2001). La médina de Marrakech: Formation des espaces urbains d'une ancienne capitale du Maroc. Paris: L'Harmattan. pp. 290–291. ISBN 2747523888.
  4. ^ a b c "Le quartier ibn Yūsuf". Bulletin du patrimoine de Marrakech et de sa région. March 2019.
  5. ^ Lonely Planet Morocco (12th ed.). Lonely Planet. 2017.
  6. ^ Historique – Expositions – Plan du musée (information plaque posted near entrance of the museum). Consulted December 2014.
  7. ^ "Marrakech Museum - Opening Hours, Price and Location in Marrakech". www.introducingmarrakech.com. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  8. ^ "Guide | Marrakech : Le musée de marrakech". www.espace-maroc.com. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
  9. ^ Guide du Routard: Marrakech – Montagnes du Haut Atlas et Essaouira. Hachette Tourisme. 2020. p. 132. ISBN 9782017868958.
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