Morocco’s National Museum of Fine Arts reopens after major renovation

The Bizmoun necklace is the oldest piece of jewelry in the world.

This work is on display at the National Museum of Arts and Crafts in Rabat, Morocco. The building has reopened its doors after years of renovation.

A necklace made of 32 perforated shells was discovered in 2019 in Bizmon Cave near Essaouira.

“The oldest piece on display here is the Bizmon necklace, the oldest piece of jewelery not only in Morocco but in the world, dating back 150,000 years. Recent excavations at the Bizmon cave near Essaouira It has been discovered, and it allows us to embark on a path of inquiry and learn about the development of historical jewellery,” says Fatima Zahra Cliffi, curator of the National Museum of Fine Arts.

Museums have artistic, cultural and historical value.

Before it hosted exhibitions, it was a 17th-century royal residence.

The building has been a museum since 1915 and was called Odaya Museum until 2006.

Renovations will begin in early 2020 and will be completed in late 2022.

The building, now called the National Finenelly Museum, was completed in early January.

After its opening, King Mohammed VI of Morocco donated 350 items from its collection to the museum.

“The goal of the restoration and restoration of the building was to meet all the appropriate criteria for museum exhibition approval and to receive offers at the national and international level while respecting the character of the building. Workshops were held to select, catalog and maintain content to enhance these exhibits, not forgetting the King’s gift.”

A total of 8,000 objects are on display in the museum, from jewelry to clothing, bags, belts and shoes.

“The museum contains a wide variety of jewelery within its global concept, not only jewelery used for decoration, but also clothing, men’s jewelery and is divided into five parts. You can learn about jewelry through a wide variety of exhibits: the history of jewelry, the tools and development of jewelry making, the history of Moroccan costumes and the most important places where they were made, and men’s and women’s urban and rural areas. I will explain the jewelry of this area and the characteristics of the area.

Since reopening, the museum has welcomed more than 11,000 visitors daily.

“I think this is a place that represents Moroccan art, especially metallurgy and caftan. say.

Residents of Rabat are also proud of the place and have noticed the renovation.

“This museum has brought a lot of change to the city of Rabat, a lot of changes,” says visitor Abdelfattah El Aoufir.

According to historian Mohammed Es Semmar, the National Museum of Arts and Crafts serves to preserve Morocco’s cultural heritage.

“Tangible heritage cannot be understood without adding to the intangible heritage displayed in museums. The city’s museums,” he says.

“It also gives tourists interested in cultural tourism a general idea of ​​everyday life in past centuries.”