Affinities: Islamic Art Wonders in the Department of Decorative Arts

A bronze peacock, 45 cm tall, was cast in Córdoba in 962 or 972 for an automaton and signed by 'Abd al-Malik al-Nasrani, "the Christian". The Louvre pairs it with a 15th-century Italian brass child's head made to blow out steam.

About 50 pieces from the Islamic art department, 9th to 17th century, sit in five Decorative Arts rooms in the Richelieu wing, where Islamic art was shown for over a century. With their own department shut for renovation, the collection's stars are staying with the neighbours until December. You walk the galleries and find them beside European objects, grouped by light (rock crystal, lustre), colour (enamelled glass, ceramics) and sculpture (ivory, automata). Medieval quotations run alongside.

The museum gives 30 minutes, in rooms 502-503, 505, 507 and 519, with texts in French, English, Spanish and Chinese. Entry is in the Louvre ticket and a timed slot is recommended. The rooms may close on Wednesdays, so Friday's 9pm late is the safer evening.