The Al Thani Collection at the Hôtel de la Marine presents an exhibition exploring how cultures across periods and geographies have been drawn to and inspired by the animal kingdom.

Featuring over 130 objects drawn from The Al Thani Collection, many of which are shown in Paris for the first time, it includes depictions of creatures – both real and imaginary – representing civilisations from four continents spanning the 3rd millennium BC to the 20th century AD.

 

Highlights range from a Laconian bronze votive figure of a horse from the Greek Geometric period (750-730 BC); and a massive garment buckle in the form of a tiger created in China in the Warring States period (475-221 BC); to a jewelled cane handle by Fabergé carved as a snake's head (c. 1890); and an African wooden sculpture of a bird made by the Senufo peoples circa 1900. 

 

The exhibition is organised by The Al Thani Collection Foundation in collaboration with the Centre des monuments nationaux.