Author: Theresa Zischkin

At the beginning of July, the GLOBAL DECO PAPER research team, comprising Ilse, Negar, Yih-chuen, and Theresa, travelled to Frankfurt for the 21st Colloquium of the Ernst Herzfeld Society. Four inspiring days lay ahead, beginning with the graduate meeting on the first day, which brought together a wide range of contributions by doctoral researchers. Although… Continue reading FRANKFURT, July 2026

GLOBAL DECO PAPER at the Fourth German South Asia Day in Erfurt Project PI Ilse Sturkenboom and Theresa Zischkin participated in the Fourth German South Asia Day, held this year at the University of Erfurt. After arriving around noon, they began the day with lunch and a short walk through Erfurt’s old town, including a… Continue reading ERFURT, June 2026

4MZ Research Day 2026 The annual 4MZ Research Day, organised by the Munich Middle East–Mediterranean–Central Asia Center (4MZ) at LMU Munich, brought together researchers from a wide range of disciplines and career stages, from doctoral candidates to senior professors. The day opened with a welcome session that introduced the programme and highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary exchange… Continue reading MUNICH, June 2026

European Papers in Ottoman Manuscript Illumination: Mobility, Adaptation, and Artistic PracticeANAMED Library Community Lectures  At the ANAMED Library, Negar Kazemipourleilabadi presented her research on decorated papers in the Ottoman world and their connections to Europe. The lecture centred on a reference in Mémoires du voiage de Constantinople, where a sheet is described as “Turkish paper”.… Continue reading ISTANBUL, April 2026

Manuscripts, Paper, and Collaboration This April, Negar and Theresa once again travelled together to Paris for an intensive ten-day research stay at the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The trip offered a rich opportunity to engage closely with manuscripts, materials, and colleagues, continuing their shared exploration of decorated paper traditions across cultures. Negar focused her research… Continue reading PARIS, April 2026

In the second week of her research trip to Istanbul, Negar focused particularly on manuscripts from the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum collection housed in the Süleymaniye Library. During this period, she examined a selection of monumental manuscripts that offered valuable insights into the diversity of materials and artistic practices within the Islamic manuscript tradition.… Continue reading ISTANBUL, March 2026, Part II

A Study Trip to Istanbul: Manuscripts, Paper, and Encounters Across Time While Yih-chuen is spending time in China, Negar and Theresa set off from London to Istanbul for a joint study trip devoted to decorated paper, manuscript culture, and material practices across the Islamic world. Day 1: The Sakıp Sabancı Museum Their first day led… Continue reading ISTANBUL, March 2026, Part I

From Munich to London: A Week of Manuscripts, Margins, and Marvels After a productive Monday morning in the office in Munich, Negar and Theresa set off together for London – ready to immerse themselves in a week of exciting research and discovery. The transition from Bavarian routine to London’s vibrant scholarly landscape could not have… Continue reading LONDON, March 2026

New Perspectives on Knowledge and Making: Reflections from the 38th German Congress of Art History in Munich Attending the 38th German Congress of Art History in Munich was an inspiring and intellectually energising experience for our team. As researchers working on decorated paper, we were particularly interested in how this year’s central theme Knowledge would… Continue reading MUNICH, February 2026

Exploring the Preetorius Collection at the Museum Five Continents, Munich This week, Mandana and Theresa had the pleasure of visiting the Museum Five Continents (Museum Fünf Kontinente) in Munich to study objects from the Islamic holdings of the Preetorius Collection. The visit formed part of Mandana’s ongoing doctoral research, which focuses on the collector and… Continue reading MUNICH, February 2026