The core of this collection comes from the Loose bits and pieces of Cairo’s mosques and monuments, gathered together in the late nineteenth century to prevent them from being carried off by European treasure hunters. Objects were stored in the Mosque of al-Hakim until, in 1902, a permanent museum was created on the ground floor of what was then the National Library.

Historically, the interpretation of a Koranic injunction against the representation of Allah led Muslims to reject figurative forms; instead they developed exceptional skills in floral geometric, and epigraphic forms, applying fantastic patterning to wood, glass, metal, stone, textiles,  ceramics, bone, and paper, all of which are represented here.

There are carved wood pulpits, panels, and doors, finely worked mosque lamps, and marble fountains from houses and palaces in the old Islamic city. Many items in the museum originated elsewhere, having found their way to medieval Cairo simply because it was one of the richest cities in the world.