Friday 19 / December / 2025
Muscat: Oman’s National Museum has inaugurated a special exhibition titled “Splendor of Silver: Treasures from the Omani Court” at the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus in Minsk. The event, part of Oman Day celebrations, aims to deepen cultural ties between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Belarus.
The exhibition, which runs until March 18, 2026, showcases the historical and artistic significance of Omani silverwork, featuring a curated selection of artifacts from the royal courts of Muscat and Zanzibar. It highlights silver’s enduring role in Omani heritage not only as a symbol of royal prestige but also as an integral part of daily life and craftsmanship.
The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of Her Highness Dr. Mona bint Fahd Al Said, Assistant Vice Chancellor for International Cooperation at Sultan Qaboos University and Deputy Chair of the National Museum’s Board of Trustees. In her remarks, she emphasized the importance of cultural diplomacy and the shared commitment to fostering deeper cultural and intellectual exchange between the two nations.
The exhibition is divided into five thematic sections:
The Omani Khanjar (dagger): Tracing its evolution from the third millennium BCE and featuring iconic types such as the Saidi, Nizwani, and Sur daggers. Highlights include a khanjar gifted by former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to the late Sultan Qaboos.
Fragrance Culture: Exploring the role of perfumes in Omani society, including rare 1983 crystal and 24-karat gold bottles from Amouage’s first fragrance, Amouage Gold, inspired by the khanjar.
Silver Craftsmanship: Displaying ornamental and symbolic silver items used for adornment, protection, and as part of women’s dowries.
Traditional Attire: Presenting Omani clothing as expressions of identity and modesty, with items such as a shield and musket from the personal collection of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
Elite Attire in East Africa: Featuring garments and jewelry of prominent Omani figures in East Africa, including the 19th-century adornments of Sayyida Salma bint Said Al Busaidiyah.
Secretary-General of the National Museum, H.E. Jamal bin Hassan Al Moosawi, noted that the exhibition was inspired by the 2024 state visit of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to Oman, during which he proposed hosting the exhibition in Minsk. He emphasized that the display reflects Oman’s rich artistic heritage and its universal human appeal, reinforcing cultural understanding and cooperation.
Oman’s participation also marks its role as Guest of Honor in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the National Art Museum of Belarus. This follows a previous collaboration in 2019, when Oman presented the “Jewel of the East: Omani Handicrafts” exhibition during an earlier Oman Day event.
The exhibition stands as a testament to the enduring friendship between Oman and Belarus and the power of cultural heritage to bridge nations.
