New Delhi: One of Qatar's largest museums is showcasing the gulf state's rich heritage.
Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al-Thani, one of the Gulf's most successful businessmen and biggest private antiques and arts collectors has opened a museum in Qatar, exhibiting his collection of artefacts, including vintage cars, in attempt to promote culture and heritage in the Gulf State.
Sheikh Faisal inherited the treasure stove of antiquities from his father Sheikh Qassim Bin Faisal Al-Thani. His private collection is located in a building on his private farm at a museum in Shahaniya, west of Doha, and houses more than 3,000 pieces with highly historical value.
The museum has become a destination for tourists as well as cultural and historical researchers. The Qatari businessman started collecting antiques in the1960s, travelling to countries world-wide to find the most unique coin, books, manuscripts, ceramics and classic cars from different cultures and time.
"My hobby was collecting stamps at first, then coins and other things. As time went on, I started to enjoy collecting certain kinds of antiques. Every piece has a meaning. Now when I get any inscription I can learn from it about people who came before me" he told Reuters.
As a collector keen to accumulate as many artefacts as possible, Sheikh Faisal became an expert in antiques. "Copper antiques mean the same. When I buy copper antiques I look at the drawings covering it and through my experience I learn something from it. Writing also has different generations and when I see writings from different ages it means something to me and I can know its past and I like to examine it myself" he said.
Sheikh Faisal wanted to give others the opportunity to view his collection and that is when he decided to combine and display his collection in a specialised museum. He dedicated a big part of the museum to Qatari heritage in an attempt to promote the historical and cultural awareness to the next generation of Qataris.
Sheikh Faisal explains that Qataris are interested in collecting all kinds of artefacts and as a result, have become known for obtaining some of the most unique collections in the region.
He adds that the interest comes from the fact that Qataris are very proud of their Islamic history and culture, and the impact it has had on the social behaviour of Qatari society. "In Qatar we are interested in collecting precious items since a long time.
Qataris for instance are the first people to bring the Oryx from the empty square region and preserve it. We have a passion for preserving these things.
That's why in Qatar we have many people collecting various items" he said. The fast social and economic changes that Qatar went through made Sheikh Faisal keen on displaying his collection to promote the spirit of research in history and culture, especially to the next generation.
The museum displays swords, and other kinds of Islamic armour, besides rare Arabic manuscripts, innumerable fine and plastic Arabic arts, various Islamic artefacts, as well as many classic and vintage cars.
In September 2002, the museum becomes a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), a non-governmental organisation which is related to UNESCO and is dedicated to promoting awareness and training with regards to heritage, culture and museums.
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