14th century tile with Qur'anic inscription. Courtesy Ashmolean

Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum is to create an online centre for the study of Islamic and eastern art.

An unspecified but ‘substantial’ donation from philanthropist Mr Yousef Jameel will be used to create the Yousef Jameel Online Centre for Islamic and Eastern Art, aiming to broaden access to the museum’s renowned collection.

There are also plans to open a study centre of Islamic and eastern art at the Ashmolean along with a scholarship programme for students at the University of Oxford.

The online centre is planned to be ready in time for the completion of the museum’s current redevelopment in 2009.

Mosque lamp from the early 14th century. Courtesy Ashmolean

“This major project of digitisation and web publishing will focus initially on the Islamic collections,” said Dr Oliver Watson, the Ashmolean’s Keeper of Eastern Art and specialist on the history of Islamic ceramics.

“However, of equal importance, it aims to explore the artistic cultures of Asia collectively, in order to determine their similarities and differences. It is necessary to demonstrate that Islamic art exists not in isolation, but alongside the other great Asian artistic traditions, from India to Japan.”

The Ashmolean has a major collection of art and archaeology from the Middle East, South Asia, the Himalayas, South East Asia, China and Japan.

Iranian lustre bowl. Courtesy Ashmolean

They include a collection of Ikat tie-dyed robes from Central Asia, the Newberry collection of more than 1,000 embroidery fragments from Islamic Egypt, more than 1,200 cotton pieces originally from Muslim Gujerat, and a substantial collection of Islamic ceramics from the 8th-19th centuries.

Christopher Brown, Director of the Ashmolean, said: “We are extremely grateful to Mr Jameel for his generous gift. His support will enable the Ashmolean to present the art of the Islamic world to a wider audience than ever before.”